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Courting India: Seventeenth-Century England, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire
A profound and ground-breaking approach to one of the most important encounters in the history of the British arrival in India in the early seventeenth century.
Traditional interpretations to the British Empire’s emerging success and expansion has long overshadowed the deep uncertainty that marked its initial entanglement with India. In September 1615, Thomas Roe—Britain’s first ambassador to the Mughal Empire—made landfall on the western coast of India. Roe entered the court of Jahangir, “conqueror of the world,” one of immense wealth, power, and culture that looked askance at the representative of a precarious and distant island nation.
Though London was at the height of the Renaissance—the era of Shakespeare, Jonson, and Donne—financial strife and fragile powerbases presented risk and uncertainty at every turn. What followed in India was a turning-point in history, a story of palace intrigue, scandal, and mutual incomprehension that unfolds as global trade begins to stretch from Russia to Virginia, from West Africa to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.
Using an incisive blend of Indian and British records, and exploring the art, literature, sights, and sounds of Elizabethan London and Imperial India, Das portrays the nuances of cultural and national collision on an individual and human level. The result is a rich and radical challenge to our understanding of Britain and its early empire—and a cogent reminder of the dangers of distortion in the history books of the victors.
Traditional interpretations to the British Empire’s emerging success and expansion has long overshadowed the deep uncertainty that marked its initial entanglement with India. In September 1615, Thomas Roe—Britain’s first ambassador to the Mughal Empire—made landfall on the western coast of India. Roe entered the court of Jahangir, “conqueror of the world,” one of immense wealth, power, and culture that looked askance at the representative of a precarious and distant island nation.
Though London was at the height of the Renaissance—the era of Shakespeare, Jonson, and Donne—financial strife and fragile powerbases presented risk and uncertainty at every turn. What followed in India was a turning-point in history, a story of palace intrigue, scandal, and mutual incomprehension that unfolds as global trade begins to stretch from Russia to Virginia, from West Africa to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.
Using an incisive blend of Indian and British records, and exploring the art, literature, sights, and sounds of Elizabethan London and Imperial India, Das portrays the nuances of cultural and national collision on an individual and human level. The result is a rich and radical challenge to our understanding of Britain and its early empire—and a cogent reminder of the dangers of distortion in the history books of the victors.
580 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 16, 2024
This is an engrossing book for so many reasons. The tale of the fraught early diplomatic encounters between Mughal India and Stuart Britain, it's based on the journals of Sir Thomas Roe, the arrogant representative of the court of James I, who recounts his embassy and trade mission, on behalf of the newly formed East India Company, to the court of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. We learn of his frustration at the cultural differences with his hosts, his diplomatic faux pas and his grudging admiration of the splendour and power of his Indian hosts. Along the way, the author draws contemporary similarities and differences between Stuart and Mughal beliefs and methods of government, from the liberal Mughal attitude towards religious freedom (in contrast to protestant dominance of early 17th century England) to several examples of Jahangir's intolerance of personal criticism, of which proponents of the divine rights of kings would have been envious.
There are fascinating pen portraits of numerous key figures in both England and India, including Prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jahan - , with whom Roe has a very strained relationship - to key female figures such as Nur Jahan and Anne of Denmark.
It's hard to believe that this powerful Mughal society would, within a century, give way to the abject humiliation of brutal colonial dominance at the hands of the heirs to Thomas Roe and his colleagues.
There are fascinating pen portraits of numerous key figures in both England and India, including Prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jahan - , with whom Roe has a very strained relationship - to key female figures such as Nur Jahan and Anne of Denmark.
It's hard to believe that this powerful Mughal society would, within a century, give way to the abject humiliation of brutal colonial dominance at the hands of the heirs to Thomas Roe and his colleagues.
February 5, 2025
Rarely does it take me two weeks to finish a book and still, when I do, feel very disappointed about that it is over. A fantastic read with brilliant characters - bristling Amabassador Roe, alcoholic Mughal princes, badly behaved Brits abroad.
October 3, 2024
I've wondered how England first became involved with India and then ended up ruling it, so this book seemed like a useful place to start. It was quite interesting as it showed that England was not a terribly important country at the time it first became involved with India. Of course, everyone knew this but the English. It's self importance reminded me of a Yorkshire terrier barking hysterically at a Rottweiler. Apparently some things never change. This book quotes many original sources, and the English ones are in the original language so a reasonable degree of comfort with the language of Shakespeare or the king James Bible is a definite plus. 3.5 stars
January 31, 2024
I heard the author speak at Cheltenham Literature Festival and was interested in this book about the first encounters between England and the Mughal Empire. The book would appeal more to specialists as the detail and length are probably too much for the general reader.
August 10, 2023
Das' account of the Mughal Court, imperial diaries and Roe's embassy breathes new life into a well-known historical archive, but with a refreshing context and fresh eyes.
September 9, 2025
I studied a little bit of Indian history way back in high school, mostly from a British perspective, dealing with that period when India was considered 'the jewel in the Crown', in the hey day of the British East India Company.
But this history, by Indian ex-pat Nandini Das, now a Professor at Oxford University, pre-dates that period, covering events that I knew little or nothing about.
This history covers the early 17th century, the time when James I was King of England, and the English were embarking on the beginnings of a trade expansion with the exotic East, in search of new markets to sell manufactured goods, and to import those tropical spices that had become so sought after and profitable.
This is the story of the very first forays by the British into the Indian sub-continent, their first dealings with the Mughal empire, a civilisation, mostly Muslim, and culture that was so different from anything they had previously encountered.
And they weren't the only ones seeking the prize. The Portuguese were there before them, and had gained some concessions from the Mughal princes and the royal family. And those pesky Dutchmen were also sniffing about wanting a piece of the action.
This was an old-fashioned trade war, not without some piracy on the high seas, and some nifty diplomatic maneuvering, not to mention a plethora of graft and bribery, all to gain an advantage in what purported to be a lucrative new venture.
This is the time of Thomas Roe, England's first ambassador to India, who was assigned the task of negotiating with the Mughal rulers on behalf of the English Crown and the East India Company for favourable trading concessions, including exclusivity where possible. Roe attempted to serve two masters, a mix of royal patronage and as a company employee, which, quite naturally, produced its share of conflicts and difficulties.
The research undertaken by Das in compiling this history is certainly impeccable. As might be imagined, reliable records from this period are scarce and fragmented. The East India Company's obsession with record keeping was a valuable asset, but Das has had to rely on incomplete records and significant gaps, using documents written in many languages, where some of the translations may be dubious.
As an academic work, this is excellent. It was awarded the British Academy Prize for Global Cultural Understanding and the Wolfson History Prize in 2024.
However, it was dry, very dry at times, and it was not always easy to maintain concentration on such a dense, detailed presentation of names, dates, facts and figures.
Das has also quoted directly from source documents on frequent occasions, which is a legitimate approach in academic works. But such were the vagaries of English spelling at that time, that many of the quoted passages looked like they were written by a dyslexic 8 year old. That got on my goat a bit, trying to decipher just what the correspondent was trying to say!
So, full marks for research and content, but lacking in terms of readability and maintaining interest.
3.5 stars - only just.
But this history, by Indian ex-pat Nandini Das, now a Professor at Oxford University, pre-dates that period, covering events that I knew little or nothing about.
This history covers the early 17th century, the time when James I was King of England, and the English were embarking on the beginnings of a trade expansion with the exotic East, in search of new markets to sell manufactured goods, and to import those tropical spices that had become so sought after and profitable.
This is the story of the very first forays by the British into the Indian sub-continent, their first dealings with the Mughal empire, a civilisation, mostly Muslim, and culture that was so different from anything they had previously encountered.
And they weren't the only ones seeking the prize. The Portuguese were there before them, and had gained some concessions from the Mughal princes and the royal family. And those pesky Dutchmen were also sniffing about wanting a piece of the action.
This was an old-fashioned trade war, not without some piracy on the high seas, and some nifty diplomatic maneuvering, not to mention a plethora of graft and bribery, all to gain an advantage in what purported to be a lucrative new venture.
This is the time of Thomas Roe, England's first ambassador to India, who was assigned the task of negotiating with the Mughal rulers on behalf of the English Crown and the East India Company for favourable trading concessions, including exclusivity where possible. Roe attempted to serve two masters, a mix of royal patronage and as a company employee, which, quite naturally, produced its share of conflicts and difficulties.
The research undertaken by Das in compiling this history is certainly impeccable. As might be imagined, reliable records from this period are scarce and fragmented. The East India Company's obsession with record keeping was a valuable asset, but Das has had to rely on incomplete records and significant gaps, using documents written in many languages, where some of the translations may be dubious.
As an academic work, this is excellent. It was awarded the British Academy Prize for Global Cultural Understanding and the Wolfson History Prize in 2024.
However, it was dry, very dry at times, and it was not always easy to maintain concentration on such a dense, detailed presentation of names, dates, facts and figures.
Das has also quoted directly from source documents on frequent occasions, which is a legitimate approach in academic works. But such were the vagaries of English spelling at that time, that many of the quoted passages looked like they were written by a dyslexic 8 year old. That got on my goat a bit, trying to decipher just what the correspondent was trying to say!
So, full marks for research and content, but lacking in terms of readability and maintaining interest.
3.5 stars - only just.
August 13, 2025
Fascinating account of the early encounter between India and Britain in 1615. Thomas Roe is sent by the East India Company as ambassador for James I to the Mughal Court. That leads to a contradictory and complex situation - Roe is the King’s representative with a diplomatic role requiring him to build formal political relationships and he is also expected to encourage trade (preferably exclusively) for the EIC. This book, based on Roe’s journals as well as those of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, shows the struggles Roe had in these early days, his contradictory attitudes to Mughal life, and the setting he was operating in.
This is in no way a dry account of political disputes and trade negotiations. The places and characters are brought to life and show a dazzling variety from the grand palaces to the tents of the court on tour, from the scheming of Jehangir’s relatives and courtiers to drunken clergymen and merchants running riot, and not forgetting the machinations back in England as Roe finds his requests blocked by other agendas at James’ court.
I found this totally engrossing and readable, and it helped to pad out my understanding of colonialism in India by showing the very early cultural, political and economic encounters that shaped many later events. It’s well researched and not afraid to indicate where sources become vague or disappear, and is written in lively and accessible way.
This is in no way a dry account of political disputes and trade negotiations. The places and characters are brought to life and show a dazzling variety from the grand palaces to the tents of the court on tour, from the scheming of Jehangir’s relatives and courtiers to drunken clergymen and merchants running riot, and not forgetting the machinations back in England as Roe finds his requests blocked by other agendas at James’ court.
I found this totally engrossing and readable, and it helped to pad out my understanding of colonialism in India by showing the very early cultural, political and economic encounters that shaped many later events. It’s well researched and not afraid to indicate where sources become vague or disappear, and is written in lively and accessible way.
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October 4, 2024I’m sure this was not the author’s intention, as this was a very heavily researched and comprehensive book, but the main thing I took away from this book was that the English were very stupid and definitely overestimated their presence in global trading networks, and were quite terrible at peaceful trade negotiations lmao. It was almost embarrassing to read. It was very “oh baby no” every time they tried to pull a power play, or smooth a conflict over, or try and progress negotiations to their favour in any way. Oh my days were they silly gooses.
It was also interesting to see what’s documented and what isn’t. For Jahangir, the arrival of the British are barely worth a mention, and there’s so many figures in this story who are not mentioned in the accounts of others accurately or frequently enough to get a full, complex picture. It essentially reflects who and what is considered important to those keeping records, whether official or personal. Fascinating, but also depressing as there were so many people, particularly women, I wanted to hear from (that harem sounded like Wonder Woman’s island, I dunno what the English were on about painting it as an affront to humanity), and how much agency they had in all these negotiations and Mughal state making.
The difference between how the Mughal state was run (I’m always reluctant to deem any culture precolonial contact as a paradise, and the Mughals are themselves colonisers to an extent, as they’ve overthrown an existing system by force) and how the English perceived that statehood is often night and day, and any similarities between the Mughal and British kingdoms are not acknowledged by the British, either on purpose, or simply because they’re too oblivious.
Roe’s account of seeing a Muslim map for the first time was hilarious. His dismay at seeing Europe on the periphery? Chef’s kiss, no notes.
It was also interesting to see what’s documented and what isn’t. For Jahangir, the arrival of the British are barely worth a mention, and there’s so many figures in this story who are not mentioned in the accounts of others accurately or frequently enough to get a full, complex picture. It essentially reflects who and what is considered important to those keeping records, whether official or personal. Fascinating, but also depressing as there were so many people, particularly women, I wanted to hear from (that harem sounded like Wonder Woman’s island, I dunno what the English were on about painting it as an affront to humanity), and how much agency they had in all these negotiations and Mughal state making.
The difference between how the Mughal state was run (I’m always reluctant to deem any culture precolonial contact as a paradise, and the Mughals are themselves colonisers to an extent, as they’ve overthrown an existing system by force) and how the English perceived that statehood is often night and day, and any similarities between the Mughal and British kingdoms are not acknowledged by the British, either on purpose, or simply because they’re too oblivious.
Roe’s account of seeing a Muslim map for the first time was hilarious. His dismay at seeing Europe on the periphery? Chef’s kiss, no notes.
March 20, 2023
I'd not come across Thomas Roe before but I'm glad to have encountered him in this book. Informative, educational and beautifully written, with hints of the absurdity of the merchant life, this has been one to savour.
Very enjoyable.
Very enjoyable.
April 27, 2024
4.5 stars
Sir Thomas Roe was the first English ambassador to the Mughal court from 1615 to 1619. As well as representing King James I he was employed by the East India Company to represent their interests and to sign a permanent bilateral trading treaty with Emperor Jahangir.
This brilliant book enlightens the reader on the fact that Roe’s mission was anything but a walk in the park or a time of revelling in mind-boggling Mughal opulence. To the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness and homesickness. Although Jahangir was kindly inclined towards Roe, especially at the beginning, being subject to the Emperor’s constantly changing moods and whims was anything but easy. While living in a shared crumbling house threatened by fire and flood and ever short of money, he desperately tried to preserve his status and his English identity in manner, dress and language (he never attempted to learn Persian, relying on a less than competent translator). Keeping up his attitude of religious and racial superiority and strict moral code while having to submit to Mughal customs and court etiquette must have been a difficult task. Another huge problem for him was the custom of gift giving at every opportunity in that part of the world. This normally involved elephants, horses and any amount of costly jewels which of course he was in no way able to match. The shoddy wares he was sent to be given as gifts made him and his King the laughing stock of the court.
While Jahangir seemed to have liked Roe, crown prince Khurram, the later Shah Jahan, mistrusted him, put obstacles in his way at every opportunity and made his life extremely difficult. And then of course there were the Portuguese and later the Dutch who were cleverly played off against each other by Jahangir who had no intention of favouring the English.
Jahangir, like his forebears, was a keen traveller, moving his massive court to Agra, Ajmer, Mandu and Ahmedabad with Roe trotting behind him, always on the edge of the encampment, suffering from dysentery, fending for himself and keeping up his vast correspondence under the most uncomfortable conditions. Another headache were the truculent English factors who had resented his authority from the start and were incensed by his trying to stop their private trading. On top of that there were often complaints about the rowdy behaviour of Englishmen who got into skirmishes with members of the court. As he himself said: ”My employment is nothing but vexation and trouble, little honor, less profit”. So, despite all of Roe’s efforts, his four years of hard work in the end achieved very little. It was always one step forward and two steps back and there would be no English ambassador to the Mughal court until 1699.
Having followed Roe’s trials and tribulations for more than 500 pages and developed a fondness for the man I thought it was sad that in Jahangir’s diary “the departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked.
Sir Thomas Roe was the first English ambassador to the Mughal court from 1615 to 1619. As well as representing King James I he was employed by the East India Company to represent their interests and to sign a permanent bilateral trading treaty with Emperor Jahangir.
This brilliant book enlightens the reader on the fact that Roe’s mission was anything but a walk in the park or a time of revelling in mind-boggling Mughal opulence. To the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness and homesickness. Although Jahangir was kindly inclined towards Roe, especially at the beginning, being subject to the Emperor’s constantly changing moods and whims was anything but easy. While living in a shared crumbling house threatened by fire and flood and ever short of money, he desperately tried to preserve his status and his English identity in manner, dress and language (he never attempted to learn Persian, relying on a less than competent translator). Keeping up his attitude of religious and racial superiority and strict moral code while having to submit to Mughal customs and court etiquette must have been a difficult task. Another huge problem for him was the custom of gift giving at every opportunity in that part of the world. This normally involved elephants, horses and any amount of costly jewels which of course he was in no way able to match. The shoddy wares he was sent to be given as gifts made him and his King the laughing stock of the court.
While Jahangir seemed to have liked Roe, crown prince Khurram, the later Shah Jahan, mistrusted him, put obstacles in his way at every opportunity and made his life extremely difficult. And then of course there were the Portuguese and later the Dutch who were cleverly played off against each other by Jahangir who had no intention of favouring the English.
Jahangir, like his forebears, was a keen traveller, moving his massive court to Agra, Ajmer, Mandu and Ahmedabad with Roe trotting behind him, always on the edge of the encampment, suffering from dysentery, fending for himself and keeping up his vast correspondence under the most uncomfortable conditions. Another headache were the truculent English factors who had resented his authority from the start and were incensed by his trying to stop their private trading. On top of that there were often complaints about the rowdy behaviour of Englishmen who got into skirmishes with members of the court. As he himself said: ”My employment is nothing but vexation and trouble, little honor, less profit”. So, despite all of Roe’s efforts, his four years of hard work in the end achieved very little. It was always one step forward and two steps back and there would be no English ambassador to the Mughal court until 1699.
Having followed Roe’s trials and tribulations for more than 500 pages and developed a fondness for the man I thought it was sad that in Jahangir’s diary “the departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked.
August 9, 2025
A nice deep dive into a fascinating corner of history. I always knew that England originally came to Mughal India as a supplicant, but this book focuses on Thomas Roe's initial embassy to the Mughals with an almost daily level of detail. It allows you to immerse yourself in daily life at both the English and Mughal courts, and draws parallels and contrasts between the two. The dysfunction of the East India Company, Roe's constant worries about having suitable gifts, and the wealth and power of the Mughals are on full display. There are also interesting details about how the Mughals organized their court, whether in a stationary spot in Ajmer or as a "lashkar" on the move.
It was fascinating to read about Roe's constant squabbles with the EIC factors and struggles to control the behavior of Englishmen in the country. On the Mughal side, you realize that part of England's opening in India had to do with internal Mughal court politics. Nur Jahan, for example, gave the English their first permission to trade in Bengal as part of a power play against the growing influence of Khurram (if I am remembering correctly - some details here may be wrong as there were so many manueverings that even a Mughal nerd like me can't always keep track). You also get a good sense of what Jahangir was like, from his incessant curiousity and scientific experimentation to his love of hunting and drinking. Roe's constant search for farmans permitting English trade and, ideally, prohibiting Portuguese trade is a theme of the book. He gradually realizes that Jahangir knows that playing the Europeans against each other is good for the Mughals, and that there is no monopoly in the future. Obviously the tables later turned as the EIC gained dominance, and I would have liked some more explanation as to how Roe's embassy played into this, if at all.
As a big nerd about both India as a whole and the Mughals, I enjoyed the book. It is a very narrow slice of history, getting deep into the details of Roe's embassy without doing as much tracing them to the big picture as I would have liked. I am giving it three stars because although it is fairly well-written, it could turn into a slog at times and it rarely really hooked me. A great read if you're already interested in the subject, potentially hard to get through if you're not. Would give it 3.5 stars if I could.
It was fascinating to read about Roe's constant squabbles with the EIC factors and struggles to control the behavior of Englishmen in the country. On the Mughal side, you realize that part of England's opening in India had to do with internal Mughal court politics. Nur Jahan, for example, gave the English their first permission to trade in Bengal as part of a power play against the growing influence of Khurram (if I am remembering correctly - some details here may be wrong as there were so many manueverings that even a Mughal nerd like me can't always keep track). You also get a good sense of what Jahangir was like, from his incessant curiousity and scientific experimentation to his love of hunting and drinking. Roe's constant search for farmans permitting English trade and, ideally, prohibiting Portuguese trade is a theme of the book. He gradually realizes that Jahangir knows that playing the Europeans against each other is good for the Mughals, and that there is no monopoly in the future. Obviously the tables later turned as the EIC gained dominance, and I would have liked some more explanation as to how Roe's embassy played into this, if at all.
As a big nerd about both India as a whole and the Mughals, I enjoyed the book. It is a very narrow slice of history, getting deep into the details of Roe's embassy without doing as much tracing them to the big picture as I would have liked. I am giving it three stars because although it is fairly well-written, it could turn into a slog at times and it rarely really hooked me. A great read if you're already interested in the subject, potentially hard to get through if you're not. Would give it 3.5 stars if I could.
September 11, 2025
'Courting India' is a terrific book, densely packed with rich detail and thoroughly researched! It is the kind of book that makes reading History interesting as well as educative, as it connects different strands across time and space from politics and business to art and literature to present a vivid picture of life in the 17th century.
Das' focus is on the four years (1615 -1619) that Sir Thomas Roe, the British Crown's first official ambassador to the Mughal Court of Jehangir, encountered India, the surreal splendour of the Mughal Empire, and the unpredictable interface of two very different cultures. But beyond that, it also reveals the asymmetries of the two worlds, one with unfounded visions of Empire and racial superiority and the other an indisputable Empire with unbelievable power, splendour, scale and refinement that challenged dismissive assumptions of the 'barbarian heathen'.
While Roe was hardly successful in obtaining the exclusive trading rights he sought, his contributions were unappreciated until well over two centuries later, when he was reinstated in the revised narrative of the British Empire! In fact, James I and the East India Company emerge as spectacularly inept in Empire building as in international trade. Roe's biggest challenge during his tenure was finding suitable gifts to offer Jehangir and other officials because the best that England could send seemed utterly trashy compared to the splendour of the Mughal Court! In fact, though Roe was the Crown's ambassador, the niggardly EIC was his employer as it was the only affordable arrangement!
Das' focus is on the four years (1615 -1619) that Sir Thomas Roe, the British Crown's first official ambassador to the Mughal Court of Jehangir, encountered India, the surreal splendour of the Mughal Empire, and the unpredictable interface of two very different cultures. But beyond that, it also reveals the asymmetries of the two worlds, one with unfounded visions of Empire and racial superiority and the other an indisputable Empire with unbelievable power, splendour, scale and refinement that challenged dismissive assumptions of the 'barbarian heathen'.
While Roe was hardly successful in obtaining the exclusive trading rights he sought, his contributions were unappreciated until well over two centuries later, when he was reinstated in the revised narrative of the British Empire! In fact, James I and the East India Company emerge as spectacularly inept in Empire building as in international trade. Roe's biggest challenge during his tenure was finding suitable gifts to offer Jehangir and other officials because the best that England could send seemed utterly trashy compared to the splendour of the Mughal Court! In fact, though Roe was the Crown's ambassador, the niggardly EIC was his employer as it was the only affordable arrangement!
February 6, 2023
Fascinating account of the early encounters between Britain and Mughal Empire. Thomas Roe was James I first ambassador to India where he spent four years (1616-19) at the court of Jahangir. He went on to have a successful diplomatic career as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire but here he is quite the fish out of water, trying to establish relationships and obtain better trading arrangements without the proper means to do so. Unable to match the lavishness of the Persian embassy for example or to make much headway against the Portuguese, already by this time better established on the subcontinent, he is forever complaining about lack of funds. The gifts and bribes that periodically arrive on the East India Company ships often spoil on the long voyage or rot in the climate. His health suffers and his embassy is badly understaffed. From such beginnings, it makes you wander, how on earth did Britain end up having an empire at all?
Das has done a phenomenal amount of research and gives us a fantastic insight into the Mughal court, its culture, customs, society, politics and power relationships between major players. And while Roe kept a journal and wrote letters, I didn’t get the impression that he was particularly interested in any of this, unless it pertained to him obtaining privileges for British traders. I personally found him quite dull especially compared to Jahangir and his family. Still, a fascinating read.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Courting India.
Das has done a phenomenal amount of research and gives us a fantastic insight into the Mughal court, its culture, customs, society, politics and power relationships between major players. And while Roe kept a journal and wrote letters, I didn’t get the impression that he was particularly interested in any of this, unless it pertained to him obtaining privileges for British traders. I personally found him quite dull especially compared to Jahangir and his family. Still, a fascinating read.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Courting India.
August 1, 2024
This is an interesting book which sets out to write a history of early contact between Britain and the Mughal court through the life of Thomas Roe, a British courtier and the first official British ambassador to the Mughal court. While these histories of colonialism through key figures are two-a-penny in some ways this book is innovative. Like William Dalrymple's work Das is more critical than many other writers of similar popular histories. However, through drawing so much from source material which is British at times the focus on Roe seems to give a slightly lopsided impression of everything going on.
Das is at her best where she is critical of the ways in which these sort of encounters are traditionally narrated. For example, where she suggests Roe's posturing on arrival in Surat would often be narrated as the Mughals not paying him sufficient attention rather than Roe being a pain deliberately for political means, or her very astute discussions of Nur Jahan and how she is represented in documents since.
While I largely enjoyed the book I found I was a bit unsure what direction it was going in throughout. While better than most it still felt like a 'big man' history which put at it's center the biographies of Roe, Jahangir, James I and Shah Jahan.
Das is at her best where she is critical of the ways in which these sort of encounters are traditionally narrated. For example, where she suggests Roe's posturing on arrival in Surat would often be narrated as the Mughals not paying him sufficient attention rather than Roe being a pain deliberately for political means, or her very astute discussions of Nur Jahan and how she is represented in documents since.
While I largely enjoyed the book I found I was a bit unsure what direction it was going in throughout. While better than most it still felt like a 'big man' history which put at it's center the biographies of Roe, Jahangir, James I and Shah Jahan.
March 3, 2025
Technically, a biography of Thomas Roe, who was the first ambassador from England to Mughal India in 1615. The author did a splendid job of describing the lives in the Mughal emperor's court. A meticulously researched book that portrays the lives of key Mughal figures of the 17th century, the two main important figures whose lives were elaborated were Jahangir, Prince Khurram, and later Emperor Shah Jahan.
The book illustrated that Roe’s mission was not a walk in the park in the great Mughal court; to the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness, and homesickness. While Roe documented every walk of Mughal life in his journal meticulously, sometimes on an hourly basis, in Jahangir's memoirs, there is no sign of the presentation of the first English ambassador; neither do any other Mughal sources refer to it, so we have no way of knowing how Roe's presentation struck either the emperor or the gathered Mughal nobility.
Roe had landed in Surat on 26 September 1615 and exactly three years later he departed for London. "The departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked in Jahangir’s diary.”
The book illustrated that Roe’s mission was not a walk in the park in the great Mughal court; to the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness, and homesickness. While Roe documented every walk of Mughal life in his journal meticulously, sometimes on an hourly basis, in Jahangir's memoirs, there is no sign of the presentation of the first English ambassador; neither do any other Mughal sources refer to it, so we have no way of knowing how Roe's presentation struck either the emperor or the gathered Mughal nobility.
Roe had landed in Surat on 26 September 1615 and exactly three years later he departed for London. "The departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked in Jahangir’s diary.”
April 26, 2024
"Courting India" by Nandini Das is a captivating exploration of the intricate dance between literature, culture, and politics in colonial India. Das skillfully navigates through the historical backdrop, weaving together narratives of power, identity, and resistance. Her meticulous research and engaging prose make this book a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of colonialism and its impact on Indian literature and society. Through a series of insightful analyses, Das sheds light on how colonial encounters shaped literary production and reception, highlighting the agency of Indian writers in negotiating their cultural and political identities. "Courting India" is not just a scholarly work; it is a compelling journey through the literary landscape of colonial India, offering fresh perspectives and inviting readers to rethink conventional narratives of colonial history.
Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the review copy
Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the review copy
August 18, 2024
This was a very interesting and detailed account of the first English embassy to India and the Mughal Empire. This contains a brief biography of many of the key players of the English embassy as well as in the court of Jahangir.
I went into this book hoping to understand how England came to establish their hold and dominion over the English people,and while this is ultimately a fruitless embassy I came away with a better understanding of some of the inner workings of the East India company as they establish trade with foreign powers.
I really enjoyed some of the quotes from various accounts that read in hindsight are ironic, like Roe and his frequent assurances that the English were 'not there to establish a colony' in India.
This book seems to be geared towards a very brief, four-year period of time and therefore may not be for everyone. People with vested interest in India and England and their relation too one another will most likely enjoy this book, as I did.
I went into this book hoping to understand how England came to establish their hold and dominion over the English people,and while this is ultimately a fruitless embassy I came away with a better understanding of some of the inner workings of the East India company as they establish trade with foreign powers.
I really enjoyed some of the quotes from various accounts that read in hindsight are ironic, like Roe and his frequent assurances that the English were 'not there to establish a colony' in India.
This book seems to be geared towards a very brief, four-year period of time and therefore may not be for everyone. People with vested interest in India and England and their relation too one another will most likely enjoy this book, as I did.
January 1, 2024
This was a slow, but interesting reading experience. This was mainly a biography of Thomas Roe's
years as the first ambassador from England to Mughal India. I thought that Nandini Das did a wonderful job of describing life in the Mughal emperor's court and some of the wonders of the Mughal civilization at that time. Roe seemed more interested in his own pride than in really learning about the Mughal culture, for example, refusing to learn the local language. In reflecting on other things I have read about India as a British colony, it seems like the British (and, I suppose other colonizing powers) were deceitful in their future "plans" for their trading "partners." It makes me wonder how India might have developed without centuries under the British yoke.
years as the first ambassador from England to Mughal India. I thought that Nandini Das did a wonderful job of describing life in the Mughal emperor's court and some of the wonders of the Mughal civilization at that time. Roe seemed more interested in his own pride than in really learning about the Mughal culture, for example, refusing to learn the local language. In reflecting on other things I have read about India as a British colony, it seems like the British (and, I suppose other colonizing powers) were deceitful in their future "plans" for their trading "partners." It makes me wonder how India might have developed without centuries under the British yoke.
March 20, 2023
Courting India is an interesting account of the British arrival in India in the early 1600's from the perspective of Thomas Roe, James I’s first ambassador to the Mughal Empire, who arrived there in 1616. It explored the beginning of Britain's imperial and colonial as well as the goings on and culture of Elizabethan England. It's a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about the origins of Britain's link with India.
December 15, 2025
Interesting and thorough
An interesting and thorough account. Though often felt repeated...Roe is either ill or recovering, in favour or out of favour of the Indian court, complaining about the Company or about it's factors. Very detailed account, often feeling like the detail is provided to pad out the slightly repetitive story. Not authors fault of course as these are the events that happened.
An interesting and thorough account. Though often felt repeated...Roe is either ill or recovering, in favour or out of favour of the Indian court, complaining about the Company or about it's factors. Very detailed account, often feeling like the detail is provided to pad out the slightly repetitive story. Not authors fault of course as these are the events that happened.
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November 24, 2023This was chosen by Pratinav Anil, Lecturer at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and author of Another India: The Making of the World’s Largest Muslim Minority, 1947-77 (Hurst, 2023), as one of History Today’s Books of the Year 2023.
Find out why at HistoryToday.com.
Find out why at HistoryToday.com.
June 30, 2024
Although well researched, the book is very repetitive, with about 100 pages devoted to the subject of how difficult it is to procure gifts for an emperor. Very belabored. Additionally, the author of course has to paint her main subject as racist, etc. which is de rigueur these days. I can't say I learned much from this book.
November 25, 2024
This book offers a fascinating account of Sir Thomas Roe's diplomatic mission to the Mughal court of Emperor Jahangir. It's a vivid exploration of the meeting of two empires, full of rich historical detail and insight. A must-read for history enthusiasts!
This is a culmination of 10 years' of rigorous research by the author. What an effort!!
This is a culmination of 10 years' of rigorous research by the author. What an effort!!
December 23, 2024
Interesting insight into european and indian feopolitics of the era. Facinating to know, contrary to taught narratives, how florishing the indian economy was and as Roe writes in his journal, how difficult it was to find european manufactured products that could impress or compete with even the basic commoditiws of everyday life.
January 15, 2025
I picked up this book because I heard the author speak at the 2024 Hay Book Festival. This was definitely not an easy read but well worth the time. it was a well researched account of history linking England and India in the 1600s. For those of us of Indian heritage brought up in Britain, the book helps build the jigsaw of our roots.
January 29, 2025
I will let the author speak for herself. After 373 pages on Thomas Roe's embassy to India, she wrote, "we know that nothing particularly significant emerged from Roe's embassy."
That said, it is insightful if you do not know much about the inner workings of the Mughal empire during the reign of Jahangir.
That said, it is insightful if you do not know much about the inner workings of the Mughal empire during the reign of Jahangir.
July 30, 2023
History writing of the highest order by a scholar equally well-versed in Jacobin court culture as in Persianate India. Imaginatively conceived and beautifully written, this should be shortlisted for the Wolfson!
October 24, 2023
Although extremely informative and clearly well-researched, the author's writing style irritated me. Her writing is too 'donnish' in an annoying way. I read the book in its entirety, but often found it hard to keep up my enthusiasm for it.
June 8, 2024
Magisterial discussion of England's first ambassador to India - Thomas Roe. Great insight on the difficulty the British had in recognizing and understanding the sophistication of the Indian culture. A period about which I knew almost nothing.
June 14, 2024
Interesting in parts but somewhat disorganised. Covers the early years of the EIC - till the late 17th century. Told mostly from the English pov, specifically Thomas Roe.
The book needed a descriptive blurb (it only had reviews on the back) so I knew how much and what it was covering.
The book needed a descriptive blurb (it only had reviews on the back) so I knew how much and what it was covering.
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