The incredible story of a Spanish woman blessed by destiny with an exceptional life.

Novel based on the diaries of Anita Delgado,1890-1962, the late princess of Kapurthala.

The historical crossroads which saw India's transition from British Imperial rule to Independence and a democracy, coincided with the fascinating life of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, the last ruler of the erstwhile Princely State of Kapurthala (1872-1949). He was witness to some of the most epochal events, both within India and across the global stage during his distinguished reign, which spanned almost 60 years. Maharaja Jagatjit Singh was held in universal esteem and still commands respect as one of the best-known and most legendary of the ruling Indian princes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Prince, Patron and Patriarch explores the many hues and dimensions of his life, character, and achievements, encapsulated as a renowned traveler, an erudite ruler, a Francophile, and a benevolent patriarch, devoted to his family and his constituents. This book recreates his abundant life and gracious world by surveying the aesthetics and geo-political events of Kapurthala State under his patronage. The monograph of this extraordinary life and dynamic personality is presented with components of a family album, historic journal, along with a design diary owing to the Maharaja's renown as an aficionado of architecture. It also bears elements of a personal memoir, owed largely to the insights shared by Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, who vividly reminisces about his illustrious grandfather.

Published to accompany the exhibition "Bejewelled Treasures: The Al Thani Collection," held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 21 November 2015 - 28 March 2016.

An unputdownablc factual account of the zenana world of the rajas and sultans of India, concentrating on the firangi bahus and begums of this veiled world of myths and folklores. The book gives us the stories of twenty different European women who broke society's rules to marry the 'heathen' Indian princes. Who were these women? Were they gold-diggers, or hopeless romantics hoping to enact their own Cinderella fairy-tale? Did they live happily ever after? Set against the backdrop of India's independence struggle, the book has a delicious and potent mix of flavours - the end of the British Raj and the downfall of the pompous and extravagant Indian aristocracy.

India's rich heritage of jeweled artistry is expressed in extravagant and opulent creations that range from ornaments for every part of the body to ceremonial court objects such as boxes, daggers, and thrones. Treasures from India presents more than sixty iconic works from the renowned Al-Thani collection, including pieces created for the imperial Mughals in the seventeenth century, others made for the nizams of Hyderabad and the maharajas of the Rajput courts from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, Indian-inspired jewelry fashioned by Cartier and other Western firms, and contemporary designs. The lucid text discusses the significance of these objects within the history of Indian jeweled arts, demonstrating how they stand among the highest expressions of Indian culture.

A tale of love, loss, identity, and belonging, No Place to Call Home tells the story of a family who fled to the United Kingdom from their native Congo to escape the political violence under the dictator, Le Maréchal. The young son Jean starts at a new school and struggles to fit in. An unlikely friendship gets him into a string of sticky situations, eventually leading to a suspension. At home, his parents pressure him to focus on school and get his act together, to behave more like his star-student little sister. As the family tries to integrate in and navigate modern British society while holding on to their roots and culture, they meet Tonton, a womanizer who loves alcohol and parties. Much to Jean's father's dismay, after losing his job, Tonton moves in with them. He introduces the family—via his church where colorful characters congregate—to a familiar community of fellow country-people, making them feel slightly less alone. The family begins to settle, but their current situation unravels and a threat to their future appears, while the fear of uncertainty remains.

This book on the picturesque lifestyle of the erstwhile Indian princes and maharajas is now available in a revised Indian edition. The princes may have become mere citizens but the enchantment remains

An ambitious, lavishly illustrated survey of the most valuable of precious gems

In the year 1965, Sonia Maino, a 19-year-old Italian student met a young Indian boy, Rajiv Gandhi, while they were both studying in Cambridge. She was born into a modest family in suburban Turin, where her father was a strict man who kept a close eye on his three daughters. Much to his chagrin, his painfully-shy middle daughter, of whom he was especially protective, fell in love with a man belonging the most powerful family in India. This marked the beginning of a story unlike any other - of a carefree Italian girl who was compelled to take on the murky world of rajneeti. With information sourced from close friends and colleagues, this book examines how Sonias courage, honesty and dedication have made her a leader in the eyes of one-sixth of humanity. From her idyllic childhood to her passionate love affair and from her days as a docile daughter-in-law to her current status of being the only Indian politician to have refused prime ministership.