Talwar

by Robert Carter

Set against a background of 18th-century India, where an all-powerful East India Company wars with the French for control of the dying Moghul Empire, and one man, an independent entrepreneur, fights them both. "Talwar" is an historical drama which is also about the destiny of a continent.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Politics, Thriller, Action, 18th Century

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

I was born in Staffordshire, near Etruria, the place made famous by Josiah Wedgwood, but was brought up in Sydney, Australia and later in Lancashire, England. I studied astrophysics at Newcastle University, where I started the student science fiction society. Writing novels has always played a part in my life, and I've tried to see the world enough to be able to write fiction with the help of personal experience.

After university, the US oil industry was booming so I went to Dallas, Texas, later on I worked on rigs in various parts of the Middle East and the war-torn heart of Africa. I was aboard the Ron Tappmeyer, a rig that blew out in the Persian Gulf, killing 19 men. It was dangerous work, but well-paid, and it took me to places that outsiders rarely see, like the Rub-al-Khali of Arabia and hard-to-reach parts of equatorial Africa.

When I left the oilfields, I spent time on travel, first to East Berlin and Warsaw, then to Moscow and Leningrad. From there I took the Trans-Siberian railway to Japan. In Hong Kong, I worked on a road survey, took tea with the heir of the last king of Upper Burma near Mandalay, and on the path to Everest base camp just happened to run into Sir Edmund Hillary. After traveling around most of India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, I returned home and took up a job with the BBC. Four years later, I left BBC TV to write. I finally settled in London, but I still like to head off to interesting parts when time allows.

Reviews

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Talwar" by Robert Carter is an excellent historic novel set in a time and place I knew next to nothing about. The India of 1746, the East India Company and the battle between rival traders and political forces at the time were a real eye opener for me. Carter does an excellent job at ornating the well plotted story with amazing details that bring the times alive.
This book seems incredibly well researched and taught me a lot about the Indian / Hindustan culture of the times. It also gives great insight into shipping and trading customs of the period.
Based on real people this book illustrates a time that was changing in its predominant philosophies as well as politically. Warlords, businessmen and lovers are the well chosen vehicles to carry this epic historic piece to its conclusion and the well written epilogue. A very insightful read.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the fact that this book covered the progression of the infamous Robert Clive of England's East India Company from a low level clerk to battle hardened military commander before the battle of Plassey put his name into the history books. No idea if it's actually based on historical fact or how much was speculative on the part of the author, but it was interesting nonetheless. The book also provides a glimpse into the politicking during the rule of Mughals, the infighting between different fiefdoms, and how they were on the decline by the time the British and French arrived in numbers during the mid 18th century. Up against European scientific logic and military engineering, the fabled exotic mysticism of the orientals just could not hold for long, notwithstanding their luxurious riches and cultural splendor.

So why only 2 stars when many have rated it so highly a work of historical fiction? In a word - execution. The plot was plodding, the intricacies of court intrigue and petty succession quarrels and backstabbing proved unexciting. The romances were unrealistic, and what action there was too few and far between. Evocative description of what should have been a beautiful setting was also lacking and paled in comparison to other writers of the genre like M.M. Kaye and Valerie Fitzgerald.

[Lyn Stapleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talwar is an excellent historic novel set in India in 1746 at the time the East India Company of Britain was making its mark on Indian history and the Moghul Empire was declining. The East India Company and the battle between rival traders and political forces at the time were a real eye opener for me as I didn't have a lot of knowledge about the history of India in these times. Carter does an excellent job of bringing those times alive. I was especially interested in the rise of Robert Clive from lowly writer (clerk) in The Company to military commander.

This book seems to be well researched and taught me a lot about the Indian / Hindustan culture of the times. It also gives great insight into shipping and trading customs of the period.

Based on real people the book illustrates a time that was changing in its predominant philosophies as well as politically and it also illustrates the ruthlessness of the British in taking over a country and its people.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although this appears to be well-researched, there is so little plot and such unbelievable characters that I found the book incredibly tedious. There is a lot of information about India, which was interesting. I read it because I loved The Language of Stones. I don’t recommend this book.

[Balaji Soundararajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The origins of an empire documented and told like a fiction. I had always wanted to know the origins of Robert Clive, the celebrated soldier of the company, but a ruthless gangster in practical terms. A connoisseur of war, Clive was the force behind the the company's expansion in the 18th century in Madras and Bengal presidencies. He led the British to establish territorial dominions in the Carnatic, Nawab and Plassey wars.
This warlord's story is combined with a fictional romantic account of Flint to dive into the deep political knots, cultural paradigms and strategies during the period.

I give it 4 stars since the narrative gets boring sometimes with sputters in the middle. Overall, this is a read I will remember.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather too bloody for my taste but nothing less than the norm in a turbulent time when the destiny of India was being fashioned in the south. Knowing what would happen doesn't stop this from being an enthralling read

[Jim Galford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talwar deals with the East India Company's power period. It is a fascinating read of the historic events of the 1700's set in a fictional storyline.

[Barry Worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly easy to read!