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  • The Anarchy

  • The Relentless Rise of the East India Company
  • By: William Dalrymple
  • Narrated by: Sid Sagar
  • Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,152 ratings)

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The Anarchy

By: William Dalrymple
Narrated by: Sid Sagar
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents The Anarchy by William Dalrymple, read by Sid Sagar.

THE TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2019
THE TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
FINALIST FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE 2020
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2019
A FINANCIAL TIMES, OBSERVER, DAILY TELEGRAPH, WALL STREET JOURNAL AND TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘Dalrymple is a superb historian with a visceral understanding of India … A book of beauty’ – Gerard DeGroot, The Times

In August 1765 the East India Company defeated the young Mughal emperor and forced him to establish a new administration in his richest provinces. Run by English merchants who collected taxes using a ruthless private army, this new regime saw the East India Company transform itself from an international trading corporation into something much more unusual: an aggressive colonial power in the guise of a multinational business.

William Dalrymple tells the remarkable story of the East India Company as it has never been told before, unfolding a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power.

©2019 William Dalrymple (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about The Anarchy

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  • Overall
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excellent narrative ...

poor narration, largely due to mangled pronunciation of non-English nouns. The text itself flows smoothly and is a riveting listen.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Well written and narrated

I thoroughly enjoyed the content of this book. It was very well narrated, I would highly recommend for those who have interest in the history books f subcontinent.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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master story teller

I really enjoyed this audiobook. what a fascinating story. educational and so many characters saved from oblivion

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Does what it says on the tin

I'd recommend this. Kept to the subject yet colourful and entertaining. I'd recommend Roger Crowleys 'Conquerors' as an accompaniment. It deals with Portugals equivalent ventures in India.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Gripped from the first page

Not just an important book but a story so well told. Totally gripping. Dalrymple at his best. If you are interested in British and Indian history this is a must.










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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely Fascinating

Tells the story of the East India company, from what feels like a well rounded viewpoint and emphasises plenty of different aspects of the period: political, social and economic

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book

Great book with warnings for the future. I enjoyed well read researched and entertaining

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Narration became frustrating

Fascinating history but I felt the EIC was left behind instead to focus on India's civil wars. The narrator just sounds like he has a blocked nose for the entire book. There are obvious overdubs where he sounds much clearer. I couldn't listen beyond the second third, read the rest myself instead.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator mispronounces lots of words

Poor William Dalrymple. His scholarly work is ruined by a dreadful narration which mispronounces loads of English words: Excruciating.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

William Dalrymple hits it out of the park again!

A wonderful history of a time not so far from us but oh so misunderstood. The Anarchy is meticulously written to create an almost real life game of thrones.

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