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Freedom at Midnight Paperback – May 4, 2001
There is a newer edition of this item:
- Print length629 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherVikas Pub
- Publication dateMay 4, 2001
- Dimensions5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN-108125904808
- ISBN-13978-8125904809
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Product details
- Publisher : Vikas Pub; 1st edition (May 4, 2001)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 629 pages
- ISBN-10 : 8125904808
- ISBN-13 : 978-8125904809
- Item Weight : 1.65 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,925,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,775 in India History
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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I have always held that in order for history to teach us, it must be delivered in a form that seduces us into understanding it. By developing the characters whom most of us already know - Gandhi, Nehru, Mountbatten, Jinnah, Churchill - we find ourselves in the venues of the account as quiet observers as the die is cast to deliver India to its destiny. The book underscores the power of language, with excerpts from the inimitable speeches delivered extemporaneously by Nehru, in quick succession, upon the birth of the nation, and ultimately the death of its father.
It is also a cautionary tale for the present, by showing so clearly how false distinctions between people, riven by such things as religion, wealth, and power, can so readily cause diverse communities living in harmony for centuries to shatter the peacefulness of their coexistence and turn on each other in abhorrent communal violence at a moment's notice, leaving us stunned and questioning our humanity. Perhaps this understanding can encourage us not to repeat this insanity.
A marvelous book - highly recommended.
About the Book ***** (5 Star)
Kindle Edition 0 (Worst)
About the Book.
Book can be summed up in one sentence - "Every Indian Must Read It Once" The Story of India during the transfer of power from British, Division, Riot and the sacrifice of the greatest human being that lived and died. Detailed. Authentic with master writing.
About Kindle Edition
This is the worst of Kindle edition I have read and Paid for. Too many spelling mistake but some of the biggest problems.
1. Words are split and wrong point. Useless spaces make it difficult to read. something like: T hi sis w ha ty ou may g etwhen re adin g fr eedo mat mid ni gh t.
2. Drop Case Problem. The first letter of chapter appears on a different line than the rest of the words.
3. Annotations and Footnote. I don't understand why annotation and footnote are not written as annotation and footnote as per ebook standard. Its written just as plain text and because the page size is not fix foot note beocmes annoying.
Please update it
That being said, this book is a MUST read for all fans of history and people interested in understanding Pakistan-India dynamics and the culture of the sub-continent. The one issue I have with the book is the glorification of the role that Mountbatten and Gandhi played in the aforementioned events. There is in some sense, a simplification of their actions and intent. The reality (at least as perceived by citizens of the two countries) is much more complicated. Gandhi's own auto-biography is more revealing, nuanced and provides a better insight into the thoughts (many naive or unsavory) of India's great leader.
The final aspect, which should make this a fun read for everyone (including people who are not fans of history) is the colorful and detailed description of the (often futile and vain) life of Indian nobility. If you ever wondered what (unimaginably crazy) life the Indian princes enjoyed, make sure you read the book.
Pros: This book has an excellent and gripping narrative, is exhaustively researched, gives a vivid account of 1947 in India as if one were living in that time and truly worthy of its best seller status.
Cons: These are very minor points and I do not know whether they are entirely avoidable in a work of this magnitude. There are a small number of inaccuracies such as Indian names of people, organizations and festivals wrongly spelt, some numbers inaccurate etc. Also, sometimes this book dwells too much on the peculiarities of Hinduism - I am not sure whether this was just an integral part of this literary work and if it was really required in this book.
All in all this book is one of the best accounts of the momentous year 1947 in India's history.
Top reviews from other countries
Very happy with the seller and the book.
This book also gives us a portrait of the different leaders of the time, and without fear or favour, shows both their follies and their statesmanship in its true factual form, enabling the reader to draw their own conclusions.
Great book. A must read for all from the subcontinent.
Reviewed in Germany on January 24, 2022