The great divide: Britain, India, Pakistan

by H.V. Hodson

On August 15, 1947, the new nation of Pakistan was born and Britain's century-long rule over the Indian subcontinent finally came to an end. Here, H.V. Hodson offers an authoritative account of this dramatic step in the retreat of the British imperialism.

The book first describes the historical events that paved the way for The Great Divide. Hodson then goes on to chronicle, in fascinating detail, the hectic five months of the last viceroyalty of India and the aftermath of the transfer of power, which saw dreadful massacres and migrations in Punjab and sharp struggles over Kashmir and other regions. The epilogue summarizes events since partition and assesses their effect on the fragile stability of nations in the subcontinent.

Genres: History

563 pages, Hardcover

First published November 13, 1997

About the author

Henry Vincent "Harry" Hodson was an English economist and editor.

Hodson was born in Edmonton, London. He was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and Balliol College, Oxford, becoming a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, in 1928. He was later a member of the Economic Advisory Council and Editor of The Round Table from 1934 - 1939. He was Director of the Empire Division of the Ministry of Information from 1939 to 1941, then became Reforms Commissioner of the Government of India.

Returning to England in 1942, he was made Principal Assistant Secretary and later Head of Non-Munitions, at the Ministry of Broadcast until 1945.

At the end of the Second World War, he returned to journalism, becoming assistant editor of The Sunday Times, and was editor from 1950 until 1961. He was editor of The Annual Register from 1973 until his retirement in 1988. He died on 26 March 1999.

Reviews

[Claire S]

Hodson was born in Edmonton, London.[1:] He was later a member of the Economic Advisory Council and Editor of The Round Table from 1934-1939. He was Director of the Empire Division of the Ministry of Information from 1939 to 1941, then became Reforms Commissioner of the Government of India.

Returning to England in 1942, he was made Principal Assistant Secretary and later Head of Non-Munitions, at the Ministry of Broadcast until 1945.

At the end of the Second World War, he returned to journalism, becoming assistant editor of The Sunday Times, and was editor from 1950 until 1961. He was editor of The Annual Register from 1973 until his retirement in 1988. He died on 26 March 1999.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

if HV Hodson was still alive he’d be running Mountbatten stan twitter like the marines

[Samina]

[Irfan]

ok