I was initially interested in reading this book, however my tastes have shifted and I do not think I will be able to get to it now. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a digital copy!

3.5 stars

Back at the beginning of August, I used my summer holidays to play 'tourist' in London. My first stop was the Tower of London and, among the ravens, armour and tales of bloody executions, I popped in to see the Crown Jewels. At that point I was already aware of this new history of the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond and wanted to see it for myself. I discovered, as many have before me, that its legend casts a far larger shadow than its reality. Indeed, it looks almost modest alongside the Cullinan I Diamond that sits atop the monarch's sceptre, or the Cullinan II in the Imperial State Crown. So what was it about this rather unassuming diamond that captured the imagination of generations? With Dalrymple and Anand as my guides, I embarked on an engaging tale of blood, war, ambition, extravagance and conquest.

The book is split into two sections: Dalrymple kicks things off with an account of the diamond's earlier provenance, along with a general meditation on the importance of jewels as expressions of power in the medieval and early modern periods. His sweeping story takes us through princely courts in India, Afghanistan and Persia, with the proviso that the Koh-i-Noor isn't mentioned by name until a relatively late date. We therefore follow a diamond which was probably the Koh-i-Noor, which plunges us deep into the territorial wars of the subcontinent and confronts us with the splendours of the Indian and Persian rajahs, with their vast treasuries and elaborate rituals (the description of the Peacock Throne was particularly awe-inspiring). This is a world of which I know nothing and one which felt intoxicatingly, sometimes bewilderingly foreign.

Honestly, I'm not being modest about my ignorance. If Indian history is a sheer, icy rock-face, then I lack even the smallest conceptual crampons for foot-holds. As such, there were points when Dalrymple lost me slightly. Part of the problem may have been that I was reading on a Kindle and so couldn't flip back and forth to chronologies or maps. I sometimes felt that (with his extraordinary knowledge of Indian history) Dalrymple was generously assuming a certain level of understanding on the part of his readers - understanding which I, at any rate, don't possess. In retrospect, it might have been wise to come to this after having tackled at least a primer on Indian history before the Raj, which would have allowed me to better understand the different kingdoms and the struggles for power with neighbouring regimes.

Anand then takes over to tell the diamond's modern story, which I'd feared might be dull in comparison to the romance of its prehistory. However, I stand entirely corrected: with almost novelist verve, she recreates the historical context of the diamond's arrival in London in the mid-19th century and the tragic tale of its former owner Duleep Singh. Her account of the diamond's reception at the 1851 Great Exhibition particularly struck me: fed on tales of the gem's glamour, the general public were unimpressed. This uncut rock displayed little of the scintillating flare of the cut diamonds they were used to. And so, hoping to drum up admiration, Prince Albert decided to have the diamond cut into the fashionable 'brilliant' style: a fateful choice by which the diamond lost almost half its weight, its integrity sacrificed to gain a little more superficial glamour.

There's always something rather appealing about biographies of things - whether that's the netsuke collection traced in Edmund de Waal's Hare with the Amber Eyes, or Peter Watson's recreation of a single painting's history in Wisdom and Strength. The object at the story's heart can often illuminate a much broader story, and that's what happens here in the earlier half of the book. Yet, as I said above, I sometimes felt that the Koh-i-Noor's early history was shrouded in too many qualifiers - 'could have been', 'might have been', 'may have been' - for all that Dalrymple does a grand job of sifting through the complicated and sometimes contradictory documentation. 

The Koh-i-Noor will continue to beguile, with its legends of curses and mighty princes, theft, recovery and (literally) glittering celebrity. Those who thrill to the gleam of jewels will find much to enjoy here, but don't be misled by the slimness of the volume: this is a proper piece of history, and you'll probably enjoy it more if you have some prior appreciation - or information to hand - on India's rich, dazzling and eventful history. 

For the review, to be published on Wednesday 24 January 2018, see the following link:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/01/24/koh-i-noor-william-dalrymple-and-anita-anand

This was a fantastic book about a fascinating diamond. It was well researched, but chock full of some beautiful story telling. I was most impressed by how they managed to tackle this subject in a post-colonial world while remaining completely neutral on the morality of the events that they're chronicling. It was a great way to write as they let none of their own prejudices cloud the history of the diamond. I was completely absorbed by this and wish I'd read it sooner. Non-fiction can so easily become dense and bogged down, but Dalrymple's prose for the first half was absolutely riveting. Anand too is an excellent writer, although I must say I preferred Dalrymple's style.

Overall, this was a really fantastic read and one I'll be recommending to everyone, whether they're history buffs or not.

I thought this book on the history of the Koh-i-noor was written really well. I was always interested in this "Mountain of Light" as I'm originally from India and moved to the UK when I was very young. I hadn't realised that the history of it was so gruesome and it being passed to many people, starting from the Mughals, and ending up with finding a home with the British, at the Tower of London.

This is a fantastic book detailing the history and myths surrounding what is arguably the worlds most famous gemstone. I applaud the author's research and highly recommend this book.

Exactly two months ago I was browsing through The Guardian’s Culture section when I stumbled upon Maya Jasanoff’sreview for Koh-i-Noor, a book she described as ‘a dynamic and gory history’ of one of the world’s most famous gems. I was immediately fascinated and Tweeted as much. And then, lo and behold, I had the chance to read the book and prove to myself my earlier excitement was completely warranted. I guess I have the Guardian and Jasanoff to thank for this, as much as Dalrymple and Anand. (Also) Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Non-fiction has to hit the spot. I often find myself craving a non-fiction read after a few fiction books, wanting to sink into rich history and fascinating detail. But not all non-fiction history books deliver that exquisite break you’re looking for. They’re either too technical and lose themselves in their own topic, or they breeze over the actual history in favour of personal beliefs or arguments. I hate being disappointed by a non-fiction read because it tends to trigger a reading slump with me. Thankfully, Dalrymple and Anand have crafted a brilliant book in which history and narrative go hand in hand. Koh-i-Noor is incredibly enticing, to the point where I was wandering around Shanghai reading, avoiding being hit by taxis only through sheer luck.

The Koh-i-Noor is a fascinating piece of history, surrounded by myths and legends but very few actual facts. And even the facts we have are obscured by the motivations of those who vied for possession of the diamond. Dalrymple and Anand start at the beginning of the diamond’s history, or at least what we think may have been the beginning. Tracing through the various sources, some never discussed before, Dalrymple and Anand attempt to trace the Koh-i-Noor through history, from Indian mines to te Peacock Throne to the Singh Maharajas and finally all the way to the Tower of London. Not once does their narrative become dry, rather with each new owner, each new home for the diamond, the story becomes more and more fascinating. I’d like to paraphrase Shrek here. History is like an onion; it has layers. And Dalrymple and Anand build up those layers brilliantly. By the end of Koh-i-Noor the reader has an actual understanding of how the diamond came to be so significant, how its reputation grew over the centuries and why so many people died for it. Dalrymple and Anand also don’t shy away from addressing concerns about imperialism and colonialization, especially when it comes to the diamond’s current resting place in London. It’s place in the British crown is, and will remain, controversial.

As I said, Dalrymple and Anand create a fascinating story in Koh-i-Noor. Dalrymple covers the first part of the diamond’s history in the book’s first part, ‘The Jewel in the Throne’, relating tales of close escapes, gruesome deaths and awe-inspiring battles. There is a lot of historical information in this chapter, most of which will be new to many readers, but he presents it in a way that prevents it from becoming too much. He treats his subject with respect, both highlighting the East Indian Trading Company’s circumspect ways of gaining power, as well as the friendly fire that brought the Mughals and Maharajahs down. In ‘The Jewel in the Crown’, the book’s second part, Anand tackles the Koh-i-Noor’s journey and stay in England, from its lukewarm reception at the Great Exhibit to its crucial influence on English classics such as Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone. With the diamond now in a completely different cultural sphere, its use and purpose shifts, yet it remains a lightning rod. The book’s two parts come together beautifully and seamlessly, and the book is as much a history of as an ode to the Koh-i-Noor.

I adored Koh-i-Noor and it made me ravenous for more historical non-fiction, especially if written by Dalrymple and Anand. They present history as something within a modern reader’s grasp, bringing people who lived centuries ago to life and making them and their actions understandable, if not quite sympathetic. I’d definitely recommend this one to fans o historical non-fiction as well as India’s history more specifically.

In 1849 a 10-year child was forced to sign over his life to the British as they annexed the Punjab. Duleep Singh was the last of the Maharajas, heir to the great Indian empire that had gone from glory to defeat in fifty years. As part of the great wealth gained by the British there was the Koh-inoor, the Mountain of Light, the most valuable diamond known. This book tells the story of the stone from discovery, through veneration in India and currently to being part of the British Crown Jewels.

The Koh-i-noor is well-known, a stunning diamond with a supposed curse attached to it, this book aims to tell the story of the diamond by putting it into context with Indian, Colonial and modern history. The book is written in two parts by two different authors. The first section is by William Dalrymple and covers the time up to the reign of Ranjit Singh, the last great ruler. Anita Anand takes over for the fall of the Indian empire and the removal of the gem to England. This works quite well as Dalrymple, a passionate Indian historian builds the romance around the stone and weaves in fact and fiction beautifully. Anand has to deal far more with hard facts and knowledge and does this well, notably in the story of Duleep Singh and also the cutting of the stone. The book is not overly demanding but is enjoyable.

This meticulously researched and scholarly but at the same time accessible and entertaining history of the famous (or infamous perhaps) Koh-i-Noor diamond opens up a world of treachery, political manoeuvring and imperial greed from which no one emerges in a very good light. It’s a comprehensive and detailed history of the Koh-i-Noor itself but also a cultural, political and social history of the people and countries connected with it. It has a complicated history and demands to have it returned are bedevilled by the fact that many countries lay claim to it. Perhaps the best place for it is indeed the Tower of London where it is presently on show. A very enjoyable and informative read indeed.

Wow, what a fantastic insight into the Koh-I-Noor! The stories I have previously read with regards to the world’s most infamous diamond are fairy tales in comparison, painting pretty little pictures with royalty and jewels. Sadly the real picture is a little more bloody and does not give the best impression of Britain. Part one of the book gives the reader insight into the history of the Koh-I-Noor and India and Britain. The account is well written and contains so much information (I read this book on my kindle, maybe it would've been better to read a hard copy as I needed to keep going back to check information and references (mainly because I'm forgetful). The second part of the book covers information with regard to the diamond itself and it’s journey to England, along with it’s introduction to the British public, to it’s final resting place in the royal crown. Until reading this account of the Koh-I- Noor I had no idea about his controversial the ownership of the diamond is. As to my opinion as to where it's final resting place should be, I'm going to keep that to myself. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.