A Second Paradise: Indian Courtly Life 1590-1947

by Naveen Patnaik

192pages. in4. Cartonné jaquette.

Genres: History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ordered this book after my trip to India and finishing the book "Reading Jackie." This is one of the books edited by Jackie Kennedy during the 1980s. Wonderful plates of miniatures. With contemporary work by an Indian miniaturist named Bannu. Couldn't resist after visits to various sites such as Agra, Jaipur, and this time around an Indian/British/Victorian palace extravaganza in Mysore. Bought a used copy through Amazon. A lovely book with fine colored plates of photos and paintings.

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A great insight into the workings of Indian royalty with beautiful Mughal and Rajput paintings as well as photography from the British colonial period. Whilst I loved this positive account of the stunning jewels, textiles, traditions and music that have come out of India, then I did feel it took an overly romanticised view at times especially when it came to women.

At one point it described how a courtesan from a poor background would have been in awe of the grandeur surrounding her everyday, but this came shortly after describing the clothing worn by courtesans and sex workers which, though not said explicitly, seemed to be protection against sexual assault. I’m sure courtesan women had far more to consider than simply enjoying the beauty of the palace.

Additionally, the book finishes by describing the end of British rule and the royals who nobly stepped down from their sovereign duty to ‘prevent civil war’, which seems a strange way to describe a process of national creation marred by the extreme violence of Partition.

[Chinmay Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Navin Pattnaik a man of class..