The History Book Club discussion

Hello Everyone,

For the week of December 14th - December 20th, we are reading BOOK TWO 1947 - Section One - Pandora's Box - Chapter Three (pg. 535 - 554) - Chapter Four (pg 555-573) ~ A Division of the Spoils -Book IV,(pg. 535 - 573)

The week's reading assignment is:

Week Sixteen- December 14th ~ PART TWO: Section One - Pandora's Box (pg. 535 - 573)

We will open up a thread for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers. We will also open up supplemental threads as we did for other spotlighted books.

This book was kicked off on August 31st.

We look forward to your participation. Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library, local bookstore or on your Kindle. Make sure to pre-order now if you haven't already. This weekly thread will be opened up on December 14th.

There is no rush and we are thrilled to have you join us. It is never too late to get started and/or to post.

Jill will be leading this discussion and back-up will be Bentley.

Welcome,

~Bentley

TO ALWAYS SEE ALL WEEKS' THREADS SELECT VIEW ALL

by Paul Scott

REMEMBER NO SPOILERS ON THE WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREADS - ON EACH WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREAD - WE ONLY DISCUSS THE PAGES ASSIGNED OR THE PAGES WHICH WERE COVERED IN PREVIOUS WEEKS. IF YOU GO AHEAD OR WANT TO ENGAGE IN MORE EXPANSIVE DISCUSSION - POST THOSE COMMENTS IN ONE OF THE SPOILER THREADS. THESE CHAPTERS HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION SO WHEN IN DOUBT CHECK WITH THE CHAPTER OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY TO RECALL WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS ARE ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC. EXAMPLES OF SPOILER THREADS ARE THE GLOSSARY, THE BIBLIOGRAPHY, THE INTRODUCTION AND THE BOOK AS A WHOLE THREADS.

Notes:

It is always a tremendous help when you quote specifically from the book itself and reference the chapter and page numbers when responding. The text itself helps folks know what you are referencing and makes things clear.

Citations:

If an author or book is mentioned other than the book and author being discussed, citations must be included according to our guidelines. Also, when citing other sources, please provide credit where credit is due and/or the link. There is no need to re-cite the author and the book we are discussing however.

If you need help - here is a thread called the Mechanics of the Board which will show you how to cite books:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

Introduction Thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Table of Contents and Syllabus

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Glossary

Remember there is a glossary thread where ancillary information is placed by the moderator. This is also a thread where additional information can be placed by the group members regarding the subject matter being discussed.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Bibliography

There is a Bibliography where books cited in the text are posted with proper citations and reviews. We also post the books that the author used in his research or in his notes. Please also feel free to add to the Bibliography thread any related books, etc with proper citations. No self promotion, please.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...


Book as a Whole and Final Thoughts - SPOILER THREAD

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

by Paul Scott

Chapter Overview and Summary

Sarah and Perron go to the Nawab's palace and stop to watch Ahmed Kasim hawking. Sarah says that the Nawab's principality is the "old India". Perron is enchanted.

He read the newspapers and learns of the problems of the Partition. Jihhan did not get the part of India that he desired and calls Pakistan "moth eaten". Refuges are fleeing from or to Pakistan and violence keeps erupting. An article, aptly named Pandora's Box, gives an overview of what will happen to the princely states, such as the Nawab's Mirat. It offers a solution for the Namwab which may keep most of his residents satisfied.

Perron meets with Count Bronowsky and learns that the Nawab may be dealing with the government, under Bronowsky's guidance. Later, Rowan tells him the Nawab has signed the agreement.

Perron learns the truth about Merrick's death.

Ahmed Kasim seems to see India through the eyes of a country under the Raj and Mirat continuing as before, a princely state with all the autonomy and glamour of the Raj years. I don't think that the Count can bring him to reality and Bronowsky is the only one who truly understands the situation of independence and the partition. It makes me wonder if Ahmed will play any part in the scheme of governance or just continue to be the dissolute playboy, a role he has played for years.

Do you think that the role of the Count will change now that independence is achieved? He has been the "power behind the throne" so to speak but the autonomy of the Mirat has changed. Can he stay in India as he is almost a man without a country?

To answer my own question, I'm not sure that Ahmed can ever change with the times. Since he is the son of Old Kasim, he may find that some place in the government will be open to him but I don't see him accepting it. But of course we don't know what Mirat will look like once the independence is fully realized so he may be involved there in some capacity.

I think so - I think the Count's role will be different - it is going to be a strange new world for him too.

It is rather poignant to see things winding down in India, especially in Mirat which will change so dramatically. Pandora's Box has indeed been opened as unrest and violence are starting to disrupt the transfer of power.

I was surprised to learn that Merrick was honing in on Rowan's wife, Laura, although he denied it. He was enjoying being the "other man" but it has ruined the marriage. He had gained Laura's confidence and she told him things she didn't share with Rowan. He was trying to manipulate her and Rowan thinks that Merrick is getting back at him for being the man who interviewed Hari Kumar in prison. Thoughts?

Merick's death certainly was a messy affair and the scrawling on the mirror of the word "Bibighar" pretty much tells the tale. It is probably just as well that the manner of death was covered up since it would have revealed things that the government (and certainly the family) would not want known. Merrick sowed the seeds of his own demise and as much as I hate to say it, he deserved something a little more dramatic than a riding accident! I would imagine other readers probably feel the same.

Merrick really was a dubious sort. I wouldn't put anything past him.

It was a bit too graphic for me but I think the reader understood only too well what happened to Merrick and that he never was going to get off scot free.

Re: graphic. I agree, Bentley, that it could have been much more detailed which was not necessary. Scott kept it fairly low key but as he does in much of his writing, left things to the readers' imagination, thank heavens. This has not been a series which concentrated on details of the violence which was happening in India and Scott deserves credit for that.

He does for sure