More Books

Adventures With the Buddha, A Buddhism Reader

by Jeffery Paine

RELIGION
2005
PAPER
410 PAGES

Paine chooses nine influential 19th and 20th century western adventurers and their travels in China, Tibet, Nepal and India for this riveting tale of religion, adventure and enlightenment. (REL12, $16.95)

Along the Ganges

by Ilija Trojanow

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2011
PAPER
160 PAGES

In this colorful travelogue, Trojanow follows the Ganges from its source in the Himalayas to the cities that it feeds, using the holy river as a means to ponder Hinduism, culture, ecology and the tension between ancient and modern India. (IDA294, $11.95)

Ancient Futures, Learning from Ladakh

by Dalai Lama | Peter Matthiessen | Helena Norberg-Hodge

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
2009
PAPER
226 PAGES

Norberg-Hodge documents her community work and changes from traditional ways of life; she has lived and worked in Ladakh since 1975. (HML24, $16.95)

An Area of Darkness

by V.S. Naipaul

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
2002
PAPER
267 PAGES

A reflective, personal account of Naipaul's travels in India in 1962 -- a portrait of a time and place and searing, honest chronicle of the country during transition. (IDA13, $14.95)

The Art of the Imperial Cholas

by Vidya Dehijia

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1990
HARD COVER

This introduction to Chola art is adapted from a series of lectures and organized chronologically. (IDA104, $41.50)

The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian

by Nirad C. Chaudhuri

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
2001
PAPER
560 PAGES

One of the great works of modern Indian literature, reissued in 2001. It's at once the story of Chaudhuri's youth in rural Bengal and Calcutta and the story of modern India's origins; a masterpiece steeped in time and place. (IDA196, $19.95)

An Autobiography, Or the Story of My Experiments with Truth

by Mohandas K. Gandhi

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
1995
PAPER
480 PAGES

There is no substitute for reading Gandhi in his own simple, direct prose. A highly recommended glimpse into the personality and life of this remarkable figure. (IDA163, $10.95)

Banaras

by Diana L. Eck

HISTORY
1999
PAPER
448 PAGES

This history of the holiest and oldest of Indian cities, the home of Shiva, encompasses many millennia of Buddhist and especially Hindu practices along the Ganges. (IDA211, $29.50)

Baumgartner's Bombay

by Anita Desai

LITERATURE
2000
PAPER
240 PAGES

The tale of Hugo Baumgartner, a Jewish businessman who flees to India to escape persecution. (IDA245, $13.95)

Beneath a Marble Sky, A Love Story

by John Shors

LITERATURE
2006
PAPER
344 PAGES

Built to mourn the tragic death of the emperor's wife, the Taj Mahal is at the center of this murderous, fantastical and dazzling tale, told from the point of view of daughter Princess Jaharana. (IDA301, $15.00)

Bhagavad Gita, A New Translation

by Stephen Mitchell

LITERATURE
2000
PAPER
176 PAGES

A lyrical translation and introduction to the Gita, an ancient Hindu poem. Mitchell's translation aims for the literary qualities of the original. (IDA170, $14.00)

Bhubaneswar: From a Temple Town to a Capital City

by Ravi Kalia

HISTORY
1995
HARD COVER
256 PAGES

A scholarly analysis of the building of the new capital of the Indian state of Orissa. (IDA135, $45.00)

The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives, An Illustrated Guide to Their Evolution and Natural History

by Alan Turner | Mauricio Anton

NATURAL HISTORY
2000
PAPER
256 PAGES

A thoroughly researched guide to modern felines and their ancestors. (BST50, $26.95)

Birds of India

by Richard Grimmett | Carol Inskipp | Tim Inskipp

FIELD GUIDE
2012
PAPER
384 PAGES

Thoroughly revised, with 73 new plates and many others updated or repainted, the second edition of the masterful Birds of India now features all maps and text opposite the plates for quicker and easier reference. (FG43, $39.50)

Blue Guide Southern India

by George Michell

GUIDEBOOK
1998
PAPER
576 PAGES

The usual comprehensive Blue Guide treatment of the art and culture of South India, with 90 maps and site plans. (IDA94, $25.95)

The Book of Indian Birds

by Salim Ali

FIELD GUIDE
1997
PAPER
412 PAGES
OUT OF PRINT

The 12th editon of this classic field guide to the birds of the plains, foothills, wetlands, and seacoast of the Indian subcontinent, published in India and authored by one of its pre-eminent ornithologists. Organized by bird family, each species is illustrated in color. (IDA45, $34.50)

Born Into Brothels

by Zana Briski | Children of Calcutta

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
2005
HARD COVER
104 PAGES

A companion to the award-winning documentary of the same name, this charming book displays the beautiful photography of eight children growing up in Calcutta's red light district. (IDA269, $35.00)

Brahma's Pushkar, Ancient Indian Pilgrimage

by Aman Nath | Rajan Kapoor

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
2006
HARD COVER
204 PAGES
OUT OF PRINT

The myth, history, ancient rites and legends surrounding Pushkar, its pilgrims, traders, and visitors are documented in nearly 500 color photographs and illuminating text. (IDA304, $55.00)

Calcutta Map

by Bharat Graphics

MAP

A folded map of Calcutta, shown at a scale of 1:85,000. (IDA155, $6.95)

The Camphor Flame, Popular Hinduism and Society in India

by C.J. Fuller

RELIGION
1992
PAPER
306 PAGES

A comprehensive study of contemporary Hinduism and Indian society. (IDA90, $24.95)

The Child and the State in India

by Myron Weiner

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1991
PAPER
213 PAGES

A thought-provoking no-nonsense evaluation of education and child labor in India. (IDA40, $32.95)

City of Joy

by Dominique La Pierre

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1985
PAPER
544 PAGES

An epic of love, heroism, and hope set among the dispossessed, and those who have sacrificed all to help them, in the slums of Calcutta. (IDA25, $7.99)

Come with Me to India, On a Wondrous Voyage through Time

by Sudha Koul

HISTORY
1997
PAPER
225 PAGES
HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

An informal -- and brief -- survey of Indian cultural history, written with the author's very American(ized) daughters in mind. (IDA47, $15.50)

Conflict Unending

by Sumit Ganguly

HISTORY
2002
PAPER
200 PAGES

An in-depth study of the turbulent relationship between India and Pakistan since independence in 1947, with a focus on Kashmir. (IDA223, $29.00)

Culture Shock! India

by Gitanjali Susan Kolanad

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
2008
PAPER
296 PAGES

A lively introduction to modern Indian culture and manners. (IDA141, $17.99)

The Dancing Girl

by Hasan Shah

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
1993
PAPER
112 PAGES

The realistically rendered tale of love for a dancing girl who entertained the British Army in colonial India, originally written in 1790. (IDA61, $9.95)

Darsan, Seeing the Divine Image in India

by Diana L. Eck

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1998
PAPER
115 PAGES

Tremendously useful for the traveler, this rigorous guide explains the significance and meaning of Hindu temples, festivals and ritual. Darsan, which translates as "seeing", reveals religious expression in India. (IDA75, $25.00)

Daughter of the Ganges, The Story of One Girl's Adoption and her Return Journey to India

by Asha Miro

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
2007
PAPER
274 PAGES

An Indian woman recounts her 1960s adoption by a Catalan family and her 2003 visit to her home country to uncover her native roots, a personal journey during which she discovered her rural home town and a sister she never knew. (IDA299, $19.95)

The Death of Vishnu, A Novel

by Manil Suri

LITERATURE
2008
PAPER
304 PAGES

A vibrant, richly drawn debut novel, set in a colorful apartment house in the author's native Bombay. (IDA197, $14.95)

Dharma's Daughters: Contemporary Indian Women and Hindu Culture

by Sara Mitter

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1991
PAPER
198 PAGES

An insightful, many-layered social history of women in the author's adoptive India. (IDA38, $22.95)

Encountering God: A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banaras

by Diana L. Eck

RELIGION
1994
PAPER
259 PAGES

With its wide geographic and spiritual scope, and combination of the personal and scholarly, this book is a fascinating introduction to religion, and the author. (IDA78, $20.00)

The End of a Trail, The Cheetah in India

by Divyabhanusinh Chavda

NATURAL HISTORY
2007
PAPER
272 PAGES

A historical study of the cheetah in India, where it is now extinct. (IDA140, $75.00)

An End to Suffering, The Buddha in the World

by Pankaj Mishra

RELIGION
2005
PAPER
320 PAGES

A personal and informative exploration of the life of Buddha and the history of Buddhism. (IDA242, $18.00)

Eyewitness Guide Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

by Anuradha Chaturvedi

GUIDEBOOK
2010
PAPER
320 PAGES

With chapters on Taj Mahal, Amber Fort Palace, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Red Fort and dozens of other highlights for the traveler, this compact, gorgeously illustrated guide to Delhi and its environs features 900 color photographs, maps and site plans. (IDA151, $25.00)

Eyewitness Guide India

by Eyewitness Guides

GUIDEBOOK
2011
PAPER
824 PAGES

A handsome, beautifully illustrated guide to India. It features color photographs, history and plenty of background information. (IDA265, $30.00)

Family Matters

by Rohinton Mistry

LITERATURE
2003
PAPER
444 PAGES

An aging professor comes to live with his daughter, her husband and their two children in a cramped Bombay apartment in Mistry's moving, and often comic, tale. (IDA214, $15.95)

The Far Pavilions

by M. M. Kaye

LITERATURE
1997
PAPER
960 PAGES

A tale of love, adventure and war set during the British Raj in India, culimating with the Indian Mutiny and the Second Afghan War. (IDA195, $21.99)

Fasting, Feasting

by Anita Desai

LITERATURE
2000
PAPER
228 PAGES

A well-constructed and deeply disturbing story of a sister and brother in a middle-class Indian family. Dull Uma is constrained to live at home and totally controlled by her parents, whereas bright Arun is helped to achieve academically and goes abroad to America. An eye-opening view into cultural differences and the Indian experience at home and abroad. (IDA172, $13.95)

Father India, Westerners Under the Spell of an Ancient Culture

by Jeffrey Paine

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1999
PAPER
324 PAGES

A very interesting book that explores the fascination that India has exerted on writers, politicians and other vistors. (IDA165, $14.95)

A Fine Balance

by Rohinton Mistry

LITERATURE
1997
PAPER
624 PAGES
FAVORITE

Set in Indira Gandhi's "Emergency Raj" of 1975 in an unnamed Indian "city by the sea," which bears a striking resemblance to Bombay, this tender novel follows the intermingled fortunes of a Parsi widow, her boarder and two tailors. (IDA92, $17.00)

First Under Heaven, The Art of Asia

by Hali Publications

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1997
HARD COVER
196 PAGES

The fourth Hali Annual, a showcase of textiles and decorative arts throughout Asia (ASA19, $78.00)

Footprint Goa Handbook

by Annie Dare

GUIDEBOOK
2005
PAPER
240 PAGES

A sturdy guide in the practical Footprint series with background information on the history and culture of Goa. (IDA266, $19.95)

Footprint India Handbook

by Annie Dare | David Stott

GUIDEBOOK
2009
PAPER
1616 PAGES

A comprehensive gudie to India with practical travel detail on where to go and what to do. (IDA138, $29.95)

Freedom Song

by Amit Chaudhuri

LITERATURE
2000
PAPER
448 PAGES

This three-novella volume contains Chaudhuri's finest work to date -- in particular "A Strange and Sublime Address," his evocation of childhood in Calcutta. (IDA217, $14.00)

Funny Boy

by Shyam Selvadurai

LITERATURE
1997
PAPER
320 PAGES

Building a complex portrait through detail of family, society and place, this prize-winning novel is a gay coming of age story set in contemporary Sri Lanka. Splendidly written. (SRL01, $14.00)

Gandhi, His Life and Message for the World

by Louis Fischer

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
1991
PAPER
200 PAGES

A classic biography of Gandhi, still one of the most readable, lively, and interesting books on the subject. (IDA162, $7.99)

Gandhi, Prisoner of Hope

by Judith Brown

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
1991
PAPER
440 PAGES

A comprehensive study and excellent biography of the complex life of India's most famous figure; Brown has interesting insights into Gandhi's political strategies and general persona. (IDA226, $44.00)

Geography of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk

by Susan T. Hitchcock | John Esposito | Desmond Tutu | Mpho Tutu

RELIGION
2006
PAPER
416 PAGES

A handsomely photgraphed tour of the five major world religions and the places that each one holds most sacred. (REL05, $24.00)

The Glass Palace

by Amitav Ghosh

LITERATURE
2002
PAPER
474 PAGES

In this panoramic novel full of tales and anecdote, Ghosh follows the lives and fortunes of Rajkumar and his family over three eventful generations in Burma, India and Malaysia. (IDA173, $15.00)

The God of Small Things

by Arundhati Roy

LITERATURE
2008
PAPER
336 PAGES

This luminous, Booker-prize winning novel is part mystery, part family saga -- a tale of lost innocence set in Kerala during the tumult of the 1960s. (IDA31, $16.00)

Heaven's Command: An Imperial Progress

by Jan Morris

HISTORY
2002
PAPER
554 PAGES
HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

A wonderful portrait of early (pre-1897) British colonial rule in India, Central Asia, Africa and elsewhere. Morris weaves historical accounts, character studies, and much imagination into this readable, compelling tale. (IDA20, $38.95)

Henri Cartier-Bresson in India

by Henri Cartier-Bresson

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1995
PAPER
128 PAGES

Cartier-Bresson's dramatic images of India, taken between 1947 and 1967, capture the reality of ordinary life there. (IDA295, $29.95)

Hindoo Holiday

by J.R. Ackerley

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2000
PAPER
300 PAGES

Ackerley traipses across India as the English tutor to a handsome and extravagantly homosexual maharajah in this comic, beautifully written novel masquerading as a travelogue. (IDA115, $17.95)

Hindu Art

by T. Richard Blurton

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1993
PAPER
239 PAGES

A beautifully large paperback of excellent quality, this book is a good introduction to the complexities of Indian painting, sculpture and sacred architecture. (IDA35, $35.00)

Hinduism, A Very Short Introduction

by Kim Knott

RELIGION
2000
PAPER

An introduction to the beliefs and practice of Hinduism, and a consideration of its influence in India and around the world. (IDA329, $11.95)

The Holder of the World

by Bharati Mukherjee

LITERATURE
1994
PAPER
304 PAGES

A daring novel of ideas, travel and history. Mukherjee interweaves the story of a modern American researcher with the travels of her 17th-century ancestor who roamed through Mughal India. (IDA190, $15.00)

The Illustrated Kama Sutra, Ananga-Ranga, Perfumed Garden

by Richard Francis Burton

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1991
PAPER
156 PAGES

An abridged edition of Richard Burton's original translation of the Kama Sutra (1883), Ananga-Ranga (1885) and The Perfumed Garden (1886). (IDA221, $24.95)

India Briefing, A Transformative Fifty Years

by Marshall Bouton | Philip Oldenburg

HISTORY
2000
PAPER
336 PAGES

A primer on the political issues facing modern India. (IDA204, $38.95)

India East Map

by Nelles

MAP

A detailed regional map of eastern India, from just east of Delhi through all of Nepal, at a scale of 1:1,500,000. (IDA123, $13.95)

India Map

by ITMB

2009
MAP

The most detailed shaded relief map (at a scale of 1:2,100,000) of India available. (IDA18, $12.95)

India Modern, Traditional Forms and Contemporary Design

by Herbert J.M. Ypma

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1997
PAPER
240 PAGES

A history of modern Indian design and its origins. (IDA186, $29.95)

India Modern, Traditional Forms and Contemporary Design (Pocket Edition)

by Herbert J.M. Ypma

ART & ARCHITECTURE
2000
PAPER
240 PAGES

A pocket-history of modern Indian design and its origins. (IDA187, $12.95)

India North Map

by Nelles

MAP

A regional map of northern India scaled at 1:1,500,000, with excellent topographic detail and insets of Delhi, Agra, Zanskar & Ladakh. (IDA124, $13.95)

India Northeast Bangladesh Map

by Nelles

MAP

This regional map (1:1,500,000) covers Arunchal Pradesh, Assam and adjoining Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Burma. (IDA98, $13.95)

India South Map

by Nelles

2008
MAP

A colorful regional map of India south of Mumbai at a scale of 1:1,500,000. (IDA69, $13.95)

India Unbound

by Gurcharan Das

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
2002
PAPER
432 PAGES

In this pleasant and readable narrative, acclaimed journalist and author Gurcharan Das weaves his personal story into the larger context of India's recent history, discussing at length the economic and political issues facing the nation. (IDA144, $17.00)

India Unveiled

by Robert Arnett

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
2007
HARD COVER
215 PAGES

A celebration of the people, landscapes and traditional culture of India, organized regionally and featuring 268 beautiful color photographs. It's a revealing, insightful portrait of the country combining history, geography and travelogue. (IDA107, $55.00)

India, A Concise History

by Francis Watson

HISTORY
2002
PAPER
200 PAGES

An illustrated history in the fine series from Thames & Hudson. (IDA139, $18.95)

India, A History

by John Keay

HISTORY
2011
PAPER
608 PAGES

A sweeping history of India from early settlement in the Indus Valley around 2000 B.C through ancient civilizations, Hindu, Christian and Muslim traditions, Mughal pomp, colonial rule, independence and the heady challenges of modern democracy. (IDA175, $19.95)

India, A Mosaic

by Robert B. Silvers | Barbara Epstein

HISTORY
2001
PAPER
320 PAGES

A collection of nine exemplary essays from the New York Review of books that tackle the issues of contemporary India's culture, politics and society. (IDA153, $14.95)

India, A Wounded Civilization

by V.S. Naipaul

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
2003
PAPER
208 PAGES

A vivid and unsentimental cultural portrait that draws together conversations with Indians, news reports, politics and literature, paying particular attention to the Hindu confrontation with the West. (IDA224, $12.95)

India, Emerging Power

by Stephen Philip Cohen

HISTORY
2002
PAPER
280 PAGES

A critical assessment of India as a world power by a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Cohen looks especially at the relations between India and Pakistan and China, as well as the United States. (IDA263, $22.95)

India, From Midnight to the Millennium

by Shashi Tharoor

HISTORY
1998
PAPER
392 PAGES

Tharoor tackles religious differences, his upbringing in the south of India, his own experiences as a "Non-resident Indian," and a great deal of history in this sweeping, narrative history of the last 50 years. (IDA106, $14.95)

India: Land of Dreams and Fantasy

by Doranne Jacobson

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1995
HARD COVER
192 PAGES
OUT OF PRINT

This large-format hardbound volume features 300 color photographs and informative essays on India's history, religions, architecture, rural wonders, urban glories, handicrafts, rituals, festivals and daily life. (IDA32, $29.95)

Indian Art

by Vidya Dehejia

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1998
PAPER
448 PAGES

A beautifully illustrated, very readable history of Indian art and architecture. It considers the religious and intellectual contexts of three thousand years of Indian art, including the modern era. (IDA185, $27.95)

Indian Art, A Concise History

by Roy C. Craven

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1997
PAPER
256 PAGES

This convenient volume in the acclaimed "World of Art" series is a crisp, illustrated overview of the range of Indian art over the centuries. (IDA16, $21.95)

Indian Balm, Travels Amongst Fakirs And Fire Warriors

by Paul Hyland

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2006
PAPER
320 PAGES

Hylands perceptive, witty account of travels along the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. (IDA287, $18.95)

Indian Embers

by Lady Rosamund Lawrence

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
1991
HARD COVER
397 PAGES

First published in 1949, this travelogue is a classic account of a journey through India. (IDA54, $22.95)

Indian Subcontinent Map

by Nelles

MAP

A map of all of India as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and parts of Tibet, China and Burma, at a scale of 1:4,500,000. (IDA271, $13.95)

Indira

by Katherine Frank

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
2002
HARD COVER
448 PAGES

A controversial biography of Indira Gandhi. (IDA199, $35.00)

The Inheritance of Loss

by Kiran Desai

LITERATURE
2006
PAPER
336 PAGES

Alternating between a once grand household in northern India and the life of the cook's son in New York, this novel by the marvelous and wise Desai skewers the aspirations and reality of both worlds. (IDA303, $14.95)

Insight Guide India

by Insight Guides

GUIDEBOOK
2011
PAPER
496 PAGES

An illustrated overview of India, with essays on its attractions, history, nature and culture. Includes introductions to the major temples, forts and wildlife sites, and plenty of color photos and maps. (IDA19, $24.99)

Insight Guide Sri Lanka

by Insight Guides

GUIDEBOOK
2010
PAPER
296 PAGES

An illustrated overview of Sri Lanka with essays on its attractions, history and culture complemented by many pictures and maps. (SRL02, $23.99)

Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri

LITERATURE
1999
PAPER
160 PAGES

In these nine stories, Lahiri captures the experience of Indians and first-generation Indian-Americans as their marriages shift and fall apart, and their families are threatened by miscarriages, infidelity and the trials of assimilation. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. (IDA243, $15.95)

An Introduction to Hinduism

by Gavin D. Flood

RELIGION
1996
PAPER
359 PAGES

A comprehensive overview of the Hinduism, from the basic principles and tenets of the religion to modern variations and controversies. (IDA315, $30.00)

Jaipur: The Last Destination

by Samar Singh Jodha | Aman Nath

ART & ARCHITECTURE
2006
HARD COVER
224 PAGES
OUT OF PRINT

A gorgeous tribute to Jaipur, its art, architecture and heritage, featuring stunning color photographs of citadels, palaces, theaters, art, textiles and mosaics, archival prints and drawings, and accompanying text. (IDA109, $95.00)

Jewel in the Crown

by Paul Scott

LITERATURE
1998
PAPER
462 PAGES

The first book in Scott's addictive Raj Quartet, set in British India in 1942, is a rousing, psychologically complex tale of English colonial rule. (IDA66, $20.00)

Jewish Portraits, Indian Frames: Women's Narratives from a Diaspora of Hope

by Jael Silliman

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
2003
PAPER
208 PAGES

A scholarly yet sentimental account of the longstanding female Jewish community in Calcutta. (IDA244, $22.95)

A Journey in Ladakh

by Andrew Harvey

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2000
PAPER
236 PAGES

The vivid account of a 1981 journey by a young English poet in search of ancient Buddhist traditions in remote Ladakh. (HML15, $18.95)

Ka, Stories of the Mind and Gods of India

by Roberto Calasso | Tim Parks

LITERATURE
1999
PAPER
464 PAGES

A challenging collection of stories based on traditional Hindu myths. (IDA168, $16.00)

Kali's Child, The Mystical and Erotic in the Life and Teachings of Ramakrishna

by Jeffrey J. Kripal

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1998
PAPER
386 PAGES

A scholarly analysis of the life and thought of a 19th century Bengali mystic and modern saint. (IDA112, $35.00)

Kim

by Rudyard Kipling

LITERATURE
2011
PAPER
432 PAGES

For the sheer pleasure of its prose, insight into the British in India and its extraordinary sense of place, you can't do better than Kipling's classic novel about a boy who travels the Grand Trunk Road with the Dalai Lama. (IDA65, $9.00)

Kim

by Rudyard Kipling

LITERATURE
1983
LARGE PRINT
448 PAGES

The enduring tale of Kimball O'Hara, an orphan boy who, through happenstance, travels the Grand Trunk Road with a Tibetan Lama. (IDA116, $27.99)

Lives of Indian Images

by Richard H. Davis

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1999
PAPER
350 PAGES

An insightful study of how Indian religious images take on lives of their own. (IDA91, $39.95)

Lonely Planet Hindi, Urdu & Bengali Phrasebook

by Richard Somers Delacy

LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
2005
PAPER
303 PAGES

A handy phrasebook travel basics. (IDA82, $8.99)

Lonely Planet South India & Kerala

by Lonely Planet | Lonely Planet Publications

GUIDEBOOK
2011
PAPER
534 PAGES

Featuring maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and information on accommodations, excursions and sightseeing. (IDA188, $25.99)

Love and Longing in Bombay

by Vikram Chandra

LITERATURE
1998
PAPER
272 PAGES

Five transfixing stories in five different genres, united in setting and authorship by the contemporary wizard of the human condition, Vikram Chandra. (IDA216, $19.99)

Love in a Different Climate, Men Who Have Sex with Men in India

by Jeremy Seabrook

RELIGION
1999
PAPER
184 PAGES

Sexual identity and politics in India. (IDA113, $25.00)

Mahabhrata

by William Buck | B. A. Van Nooten

LITERATURE
2000
PAPER
451 PAGES

An introduction and retelling of one of the greatest Hindu epics. (IDA167, $24.95)

Maharanis, A Family Saga of Four Queens

by Lucy Moore

HISTORY
2006
PAPER
368 PAGES

Moore captures the passion, complexities and power of four influential women in this family saga covering the history of India from 1911 to Independence. (IDA309, $16.00)

Mahatma Gandhi and his Apostles

by Ved Mehta

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
1977
PAPER
288 PAGES

A vivid examination of the life and work of Gandhi by novelist Ved Mehta. (IDA21, $30.00)

Malgudi Days

by R. K. Narayan

LITERATURE
2006
PAPER
272 PAGES
FAVORITE

Wonderful tales about a fictional South Indian town, populated by quirky characters whose unique approaches to tradition and modernity are the stuff of great short stories. (IDA59, $15.00)

Mantles of Merit: Chin Textiles from Myanmar, India and Bangladesh

by David Fraser | Barbara Fraser

ART & ARCHITECTURE
2005
HARD COVER

An abundantly illustrated study of the textiles of the Chin peoples of southern and eastern Asia. With more than 600 color illustrations. (ASA46, $60.00)

Maximum City, Bombay Lost and Found

by Suketu Mehta

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2005
PAPER
528 PAGES

The tale of the author who, after a 21-year sojourn in New York, returns to his native Bombay, "the biggest, fastest, richest city in India." (IDA252, $17.00)

A Meeting by the River

by Christopher Isherwood

LITERATURE
1999
PAPER
160 PAGES

Two brothers meeting in India, one a bisexual capitalist and the other a Hindu monk. (IDA114, $16.95)

Meeting God, Elements of Hindu Devotion

by Thomas Moore | Stephen Huyler

RELIGION
2002
PAPER
271 PAGES

A stunningly photographed introduction to the rituals and daily devotion of contemporary Hinduism in India. A companion to the traveling exhibition "Puja, Expressions of Hindu Devotion." (IDA132, $25.00)

Miles from Nowhere, A Round the World Bicycle Adventure

by Barbara Savage

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
1985
PAPER
340 PAGES

The funny, poignant account of the husban-and-wife duo's 23,000-mile, 25-country, two-year bicycle odyssey. (BCY02, $18.95)

Mirrorwork, 50 Years of Indian Writing 1947-1997

by Salman Rushdie | Elizabeth West

ANTHOLOGY
1997
PAPER
554 PAGES

A selection of 20th-century Indian prose, both fiction and non-fiction, compiled by Salman Rushdie and featuring work by Jawaharlal Nehru, R.K. Narayan, Satyajit Ray, Amit Chaudhuri and Vikram Seth. Published in celebration of India's 50 years of independence. (IDA293, $19.99)

Modern South Asia: History, Culture, Political Economy

by Ayesha Jalal | Sugata Bose

HISTORY
2004
PAPER
253 PAGES

This scholarly, brief history of India up to the 1990s is particularly good at its coverage of the post-Independence political landscape. It's a popular textbook, co-authored by a Pakistani and an Indian. (IDA192, $37.95)

Monkfish Moon

by Romesh Gunesekera

LITERATURE
1996
HARD COVER
140 PAGES

In these stories Gunesekera sketches myriad characters, all of whom wonder "what's happened?" as they deal with the reality of a nation embroiled in Tamil-Sinhala strife. (SRL03, $16.95)

The Moor's Last Sigh

by Salman Rushdie

LITERATURE
1997
PAPER
435 PAGES

A sweeping family epic that tackles many of the most complex aspects about Indian culture. In his characteristically rich prose, Rushdie tells the history of India, set among the spice traders of Cochin. (IDA89, $16.00)

Mr. Sampath, The Printer of Malgudi

by R. K. Narayan

LITERATURE
1981
PAPER
220 PAGES

A handsome edition of one of Narayan's funniest tales, which features Mr. Sampath, the equanimious printer of a failing local newspaper. When the paper folds, Mr. Sampath finds his editor a new job as a scriptwriter for the movies, and hilarious hijinks ensue. (IDA182, $12.00)

Much Maligned Monsters: A History of European Reactions to Indian Art

by Partha Mitter

HISTORY
1992
PAPER
376 PAGES

Mitter presents a fascinating history of Indian art and a parallel history of its fascinated European spectators, ranging from the early days of Asian exploration up through the twentieth century. (IDA285, $32.50)

The Mughal Empire

by John F. Richards

HISTORY
1996
PAPER
320 PAGES

An admirably concise, scholarly history of the Mughal Empire (1526-1720) from early conquests through expansion and decline. Organized chronologically, the book includes chapters on both Jahangir and his son, creator of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan. (IDA210, $43.00)

The Namesake

by Jhumpa Lahiri

LITERATURE
2004
PAPER
304 PAGES

An intricate and beautifully told tale, Lahiri follows the Ganguli family as they leave Calcutta and settle in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Now a feature film, directed by Mira Nair. (IDA292, $14.95)

National Geographic India

by Louise Nicholson

GUIDEBOOK
2010
PAPER
400 PAGES

Veteran guidebook author Louise Nicholson teamed up with National Geographic photographers for this profusely illustrated travel guide. (IDA208, $27.95)

A New History of India

by Stanley Wolpert

HISTORY
2008
PAPER
548 PAGES

This classic history of India has been the leader in its field for years. Wolpert writes clearly, insightfully, and sometimes provocatively about the 4,000 years of India's complex history. An excellent introduction. (IDA225, $49.95)

News from Tartary

by Peter Fleming

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
1999
PAPER
384 PAGES

Fleming's rousing account of a 3,500-mile jaunt from Peking to Sinkiang and on to India, a classic of imperial British wit and style. (CAS46, $18.95)

Of Tigers and Men

by Richard Ives

NATURAL HISTORY
1997
PAPER
304 PAGES
HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

A haunting, beautifully written tale of a man's quest to encounter tigers in the wild, and to understand the meaning of the threat of the tiger's extinction. Ives visits the forests of India, Thailand, and Sumatra. (IDA30, $12.50)

On a Shoestring to Coorg: An Experience of Southern India

by Dervla Murphy

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2006
HARD COVER
261 PAGES

This tough Irish grandmother has made travel something of a cottage industry. Here's her first venture outside Europe, an insightful tale of her wanderings by bus and on foot through the mountainous province of Coorg in 1976. (IDA29, $27.95)

A Passage to India

by E.M. Forster

LITERATURE
1976
PAPER
362 PAGES

Forster's enduring masterpiece of the clash between Indian and British culture gives gripping insights into British imperial attitudes and Indian colonial responses. (IDA26, $14.00)

A Passage to India

by E.M. Forster

1997
CASETTE TAPE

(IDA67, $23.95)

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of India

by Bikram Grewal | Bill Harvey | Otto Pfister

FIELD GUIDE
2003
PAPER
520 PAGES

A comprehensive photographic guide to the subcontinent. (IDA215, $35.00)

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of India and Nepal

by Bikram Grewal

FIELD GUIDE
1998
PAPER
144 PAGES

A slim pocket guide to 252 of the most conspicuous birds of India and Nepal. (IDA46, $15.95)

Princely Rajasthan, Rajput Places and Mansions

by George Michell | Antonio Martinelli

ART & ARCHITECTURE
2004
HARD COVER
272 PAGES
OUT OF PRINT

This handsomely illustrated book, with text by architect and historian George Mitchell, showcases royal palaces, palace hotels, museums and mansions throughout Rajasthan, nicely balancing interior and exterior views. (IDA251, $65.00)

Raj, The Making and Unmaking of British India

by Lawrence James

HISTORY
2000
PAPER
544 PAGES

An anecdotal, engrossing mostly military history of the East India Company. (IDA87, $24.99)

The Ramayana

by Ramesh Menon

LITERATURE
2003
PAPER
160 PAGES

The great Indian epic rendered in modern prose (IDA88, $40.00)

The Ramayana, A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

by R. K. Narayan

LITERATURE
2006
PAPER
157 PAGES

Novelist Narayan's translation of the ancient Hindu epic of heroism, love and fate. (IDA311, $15.00)

The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760 (Comparative Studies on Muslim Societies, No 17)

by Richard M. Eaton

RELIGION
1996
PAPER
359 PAGES

Eaton provides a rich, scholarly account of why eastern Bengal (modern Bangladesh) became heavily Islamicized, wheras western Bengal did not. Examines the movement of the linguistic, agrarian and cultural frontiers of Bengal. (IDA169, $28.95)

A River Sutra

by Gita Mehta

LITERATURE
1994
PAPER
291 PAGES

Set on the banks of a fictional Ganges, Mehta's evocative stories of a civil servant weave history, tradition, culture and religion. (IDA43, $14.95)

Road Guide to Calcutta

by Variety Book Depot

1998
MAP

(IDA154, $5.95)

The Romantics

by Pankaj Mishra

LITERATURE
2001
PAPER
272 PAGES

The story of a Brahmin youth who travels to the holy city of Benares and falls in with a motley crew of westerners enamored of India. (IDA143, $16.00)

The Root and the Flower

by L.H. Myers | Penelope Fitzgerald

LITERATURE
2001
PAPER
639 PAGES

A trilogy of historical novels about India in the time of the Mughals -- first published separately in the 1930s and now back in print as a single volume. (IDA191, $16.95)

Rough Guide India

by David Abram

GUIDEBOOK
2008
PAPER
1456 PAGES

Geared to the independent traveler, this Rough Guide combines an opinionated survey of culture and history with good information on sightseeing, food and accommodations. (IDA86, $29.99)

The Royal Palaces of India

by George Michell | Antonio Martinelli

ART & ARCHITECTURE
1999
PAPER
232 PAGES
OUT OF PRINT

An architectural survey of Hindu and Muslim fortresses and royal residences from the 12th century to the days of British colonial rule -- well-informed, comprehensive and handsomely illustrated with 250 color photographs. (IDA74, $39.95)

Ruby of Cochin, An Indian Jewish Woman Remembers

by Ruby Daniel

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
2001
PAPER
211 PAGES

This fascinating memoir by a Cochin-born Jewish woman (who emigrated to Israel in her seventies) recalls the many pleasures and complications of Jewish life in India. (IDA184, $28.95)

Running in the Family

by Michael Ondaatje

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
1993
PAPER
207 PAGES

Award-winning author Ondaatje returns to his native Sri Lanka in this hypnotic travelogue. His lovingly traced family memoirs are interspersed with poetry and ruminations on the island's post-colonial history. (SRL04, $15.00)

Say It in Hindi

by Veena T. Oldenburg

LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
1985
PAPER
238 PAGES

A pocket phrasebook. (IDA81, $5.95)

The Sikhs

by Patwant Singh

RELIGION
2001
PAPER
304 PAGES

The story of a people for the general reader. (IDA178, $19.00)

A Silence of Splendor

by Indu Sundaresan

LITERATURE
2007
PAPER
256 PAGES

Arriving in the west India state of Rudrakot where he hopes to find his idealistic brother, who went missing after joining the local struggle for independence from the British, wounded World War II army captain Sam Hawthorne finds his search complicated by his love for the daughter of a political agent. (IDA300, $15.00)

The Silk Road Journey with Xuanzang

by Sally Wriggins

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2003
PAPER
352 PAGES

A nicely illustrated account of an extraordinary, 16-year trek from Xi'an to India by way of Central Asia in search of the origins of Buddhism by Xuan-Zang, the famous 7th-century Chinese monk. (ASA31, $25.00)

Slowly Down the Ganges

by Eric Newby

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2011
PAPER
384 PAGES

In 1963, the author and his wife set out an a 1,200-mile voyage down the Ganges River. The title could apply as easily to the ruminative attitude Newby takes towards his journey as to the many mishaps which bedevil the quest. (IDA179, $18.95)

South Asia

by Sumit Ganguly

HISTORY
2006
PAPER
256 PAGES

A scholarly history of modern South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. (IDA308, $21.00)

South Asia

by Sumit Ganguly

HISTORY
2006
PAPER
256 PAGES

A scholarly history of modern South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. (IDA308, $21.00)

South Southeast

by Steve McCurry

ART & ARCHITECTURE
2001
HARD COVER
160 PAGES

A remarkable portfolio of striking photographs taken in and around Afghanistan, Burma, India, Pakistan and other sites in South and Southeast Asia over a long career. Saturated with color, light and evocative of daily life. (ASA34, $65.00)

Street Graphics India

by Barry Dawson

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1999
PAPER
112 PAGES

An excellent overview of the vibrant, ever-changing culture of modern, commercial India. (IDA122, $19.95)

A Suitable Boy

by Vikram Seth

LITERATURE
2005
PAPER
1488 PAGES

A modern classic set in Calcutta, Delhi and other northern India cities after Independence, bursting with history, character, and politics. In this outstanding epic novel, Seth displays his cultural sensitivity, historical insight, and poetic creativity. (IDA27, $21.99)

This is India

by Shobita Punja

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1998
HARD COVER
176 PAGES

An oversize illustrated tribute to India. (IDA97, $39.95)

The Tiger Ladies, A Memoir of Kashmir

by Sudha Koul

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2002
PAPER
224 PAGES

Koul interweaves the story of her Kashmiri family -- and especially of its women -- with tales of gods and goddesses, myths and cultural history, paying plenty of attention to the pleasures of food, fine textiles, and the life of the mind. (IDA207, $19.00)

Train to Pakistan, A Novel

by Khushwant Singh

LITERATURE
1990
PAPER
226 PAGES

This novel, set during the violence following the 1947 creation of Pakistan by the British, follows the inhabitants of a fictional Punjab village. (IDA264, $14.95)

A Traveller's History of India

by Sinharaja Tammita-Delgoda

HISTORY
2007
PAPER
288 PAGES

A condensed introduction to the themes and events that have shaped India from prehistory to Rajiv Gandhi's rule. (IDA57, $14.95)

Travels Along the Edge

by David Noland

GUIDEBOOK
1997
PAPER
410 PAGES

A well-considered compendium 40 offbeat, demanding or just-plain-fun fun adventurous trips around the world. (TRV02, $19.00)

Travels on My Elephant

by Mark Shand

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
1998
PAPER

A compelling tale of an 800-mile journey across India on the back of a 30-year-old elephant named Tara, this enjoyable tale of adventure features vivid descriptions of the countryside and people. (IDA08, $16.95)

Trekking in Ladakh

by Charlie Loram

GUIDEBOOK
2004
PAPER
288 PAGES

A practical guide to trekking in this remote enclave, this book includes 50 maps, route descriptions, an overview of Leh and a section of color photographs. (HML25, $19.95)

Ultimate Journey, Retracing the Path of an Ancient Buddhist Monk Who Crossed Asia in Search of Enlightenment

by Richard Bernstein

TRAVEL NARRATIVE
2002
PAPER
352 PAGES

In this journey of self-discovery, Bernstein travels across Central Asia from China to India, loosely in the footsteps of the seventh-century Buddhist monk Hsuan Tang. An engaging, informative account of travels. (CAS64, $14.00)

Untouchable

by Mulk Raj Anand | E. M. Forster

LITERATURE
1990
PAPER
160 PAGES

Referred to by some as his nation's answer to Charles Dickens, the author tackles India's caste system with urgency and conviction. (IDA180, $13.00)

The Vintage Book of Modern Indian Literature

by Amit Chaudhuri

LITERATURE
2003
PAPER
672 PAGES

An introduction to Indian fiction and poetry since 1850, including works both in translation and written originally in English. The authors span a century and a half of Indian letters, from Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee to Rushdie and Anita Desai. (IDA218, $21.00)

West Bengal State Map

by MapLink

MAP

Detailed map of the Indian State of West Bengal, at a scale of 1:1,100,000. (IDA156, $6.95)

Wild India, The Wildlife of India and Nepal

by Guy Mountefort | Gerald Cubitt

NATURAL HISTORY
2008
PAPER
208 PAGES

An informative introduction to the natural history of the region in a handsome oversize volume. With hundreds of extraordinary photographs of the wildlife and landscapes of the Himalayas, the Indo-Ganges Plain and the Deccan. (IDA02, $29.95)

A Woman's Asia

by Marybeth Bond

ANTHOLOGY
2005
PAPER
310 PAGES

These thirty-five personal, often hilarious accounts of women's adventures from China to Sri Lanka to Turkey to Bhutan, not only illuminating the everyday, oft-overlooked cultural practices of Asia, but also giving a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of the female traveller. (ASA49, $17.95)

Women in a Tribal Community, A Study of Arunachal Pradesh

by Kiran Mishra

CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1991
HARD COVER
100 PAGES

An in-depth look at the ways and rituals of the Nishing community in Arunachal Pradesh. (IDA125, $14.00)

The Wonder House

by Justine Hardy

LITERATURE
2007
HARD COVER
386 PAGES

A vivid a sensual novel revolving around Gracie Singh, a Yorkshirewoman who has been living on a houseboat on Nagin since the death of her Indian husband. (IDA302, $24.00)

World Religions: Eastern Traditions

by Willard G. Oxtoby

RELIGION
2010
PAPER
515 PAGES

A clear and insightful introduction to Eastern religions by a team of scholars, covering Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist and East Asian traditions. Scholarly, but still rewarding for the general reader. (ASA07, $79.95)

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