'The book is a rich tapestry of family narrative in the course of which various intolerances of nation, ethnicity, class and gender are woven into a story that is deft, alive to irony, and alert to many human foibles – it is a work in which intellectual audacity is matched by sound research and textual scruple. The result is a masterpiece of patient, lucid analysis ... a spellbinding family history.' Declan Kiberd, The Irish Times
‘A fascinating insight
into the British Raj in India … Innes shows with unsettling effect how
historical prejudices are still prevalent in modern times.’ Asian Review of Books
‘An
eye-opening saga not only for its compelling plot but also for the truths it
uncovers about the British Empire and the injustices faced by millions as a
result of their regime.’ Indian Link
‘I was captivated and surprised by this bitter-sweet history as it twists and turns down three generations, through many astonishing changes of fame and fortune, from a glittering Bengal palace to an Australian sheep farm. Lovingly researched and meticulously told, The Last Prince of Bengal is notable for its candid revelations of British colonial attitudes and hypocrisies across two centuries. A rich, delightful and unexpectedly thought-provoking saga.’ Richard Holmes
‘Lyn Innes explores her ancestors’ history in moving detail, capturing the tragic story of the dethroned princes of Bengal who had to make their lives in foreign lands, marked forever by the harsh legacy of Empire.’ Shrabani Basu, author of Victoria and Abdul: The Extraordinary True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidante
‘Written with clarity, wit and imagination, this family history offers fascinating insights into social status sensibilities in the age of empire.’ Gardner Thompson, author of Legacy of Empire: Britain, Zionism and the Creation of Israel
‘Lyn Innes tells her extraordinary and engrossing personal family history, revealing the ways in which the British Empire brought lives together, and scattered people apart. The Last Prince of Bengal tells us about the multitude histories we carry within, and the humiliations that race, class and faith perpetuate.’ Salil Tripathi, author of The Colonel Who Would Not Repent: The Bangladesh War and its Unquiet Legacy
