The Tiger and the Ruby: A Journey to the Other Side of British India

(Hardback)

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Description

In 1841, Nigel Halleck set out from Britain for Calcutta as a clerk in the East India Company. He served in the colonial administration for eight years before taking leave of his post, eventually disappearing in the mountain kingdom of Nepal, never to be heard from again. Despite most traces of his life being destroyed in the bombing of his hometown during WWII, Nigel was never quite forgotten the family myth of the man who headed east would reverberate through the generations. A century-and-a-half later Kief Hillsbery, Nigels nephew many times removed, embarked upon his own journey East, having promised his mother that he would search for the final resting place of their ancestor. What follows is a remarkable tale, beautifully rendered, weaving together a clash of civilisations in history, the quest to discover ones own identity and the moving tale of one man against an empire. A work of transportive power, The Tiger and the Ruby bestows upon us a very personal sense of a time and a place deep in the heart of British and Indian history.

Reviews

A fascinating and very surprising read.

There are travellers who cant write and writers who cant travel. Fortunately for his readers, Kief Hillsbery can do both. Part travelogue, part family memoir, The Tiger and the Ruby is a fine and moving tale, sensitively explored and beautifully written.

A unique take on the social history of British India.

A moving and enjoyable read.

Great details abound, both from historical accounts and from Hillsberys own trips Marvellous insights into the British in India This has a narrative sweep reminiscent of Christopher Hibberts social histories.

An absorbing story, told with an eye for suspense and the odd, engrossing detail.

A compelling microhistory, personal memoir, and incredibly vivid account.

Author Bio

Kief Hillsbery is an American writer and Lambda Literary Award nominee. His previous books are War Boy and What We Do Is Secret. He teaches creative writing at Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn and Maine.