India: Land of the Black Pagoda

by Lowell Thomas

1930. Illustrated with photographs taken by H.A. Chase and the author. When Lowell Thomas set out to see India, he did it on the grand scale. Intending to stay about four months, he remained two years. He traveled from the extreme southern tip of India to the slopes of the Himalayas, from the India where there are no British to where John Bull rules supreme—in all, more than sixty thousand miles, through a land of the most amazing contrasts in the world. Thomas offers an invaluable account on mysterious India—giving a detailed look at life in that country, which includes indescribable squalor treading on the heels of unimaginable luxury; profound sanctity rubbing elbows with sensuality beyond belief; wisdom and philosophy hand in hand with hypocrisy and ignorance—the whole spectacle presents one contrast after another. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

350 pages, Hardback

First published January 1, 1930

About the author

Lowell Jackson Thomas (April 06, 1892 - August 29, 1981) was an American writer, actor, broadcaster, and traveler, best remembered for publicizing T. E. Lawrence. He was also involved in promoting the Cinerama widescreen system.

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books on India. This was one of the best, covering the period just before the second world war. The author mixed in just the right amount of history and personal opinions about his thoughts of what the future held for India. Things changed much faster in that part of the world than the author expected. Will be sure to reread this.

[Stanley Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother was born in India (1912) of Missionary Parents and was a teenager there at a time when Lowell Thomas was touring India, preparing to write this book. I'm writing some books based on my grandmother's missionary diaries. One is here: https://www.stanwilliams.com/NINEVEHS...
So, it's important that when I do write about India, I write from a point of view of authenticity. I have traveled a little in India with my mother and aunt and have read a lot about the country, its history, and its religious history. The above-linked book "Widows' Diary" documents the significant and sad state of Hinduism in India's early 18th century. Lowell Thomas doesn't get into the sad state of India at the time (much), but paints an elaborate touristic picture of the land under British rule. It's a worthy read and informed me about India and my writing. Lowell dedicates this book to Y.B., who happened to be a British Lancer Officer Francis Yeats-Brown, who escorted Thomas on his India tour. Because of Thomas's comments of Y.B. I found Y.B.'s book "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" (1930) and found that fascinating as well.