Heart Like a Fakir: General Sir James Abbott and the Fall of the East India Company

Heart Like a Fakir is a book about the final forty years of British East India Company rule in India, based on the life of General Sir James Abbott. It explores the troubled period between William Dalrymples White Moghuls and the Indian Rebellion of 1857, highlighting British perceptions of race, gender, and social relationships.

Format: Hardback
Length: 390 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Heart Like a Fakir is a captivating historical account that delves into the final forty years of British East India Company rule in India, as experienced firsthand by General Sir James Abbott (1807–1896), the man for whom the Pakistani town of Abbottabad is named. Drawing upon extensive research into primary source documents, the book weaves a narrative thread through the life of General Sir James Abbott, exploring the tumultuous period between the rule of William Dalrymple's White Moghuls and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. General Sir James Abbott emerges as one of the most remarkable figures in British colonial history, achieving remarkable feats such as becoming Great Britain's first guerilla leader, the first Briton to reach the fabled Central Asian city of Khiva, and serving as a British Deputy Commissioner who later ascended to the throne of Hazara. Additionally, there are speculations that he may have served as the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's iconic novel The Man Who Would Be King and the character of Mr. Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's renowned work, Heart of Darkness.

This book offers a fresh perspective on British perceptions of race, gender, and the complex dynamics of social and sexual relationships during this period. It sheds light on the fragile social contract that existed between Britons and the Indian people, leading up to the explosive Great Rebellion of 1857, which marked the end of British East India Company rule. Through the lens of General Sir James Abbott's experiences and observations, the book provides a nuanced understanding of the complex factors that contributed to the uprising and its lasting impact on Indian history.

In conclusion, Heart Like a Fakir is a must-read for anyone interested in British colonial history, India's struggle for independence, and the complex interplay of race, gender, and power in the nineteenth century. General Sir James Abbott's remarkable life and achievements serve as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Indian people in the face of adversity, and the book offers valuable insights into the events that shaped the course of history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538169568