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Mumbai Fables (2010)

by Gyan Prakash(Favorite Author)
3.42 of 5 Votes: 3
ISBN
069114284X (ISBN13: 9780691142845)
languge
English
publisher
Princeton University Press
review 1: I had not read any historical books earlier. Recently when I was having an argument with a friend about Mumbai, I realized that I didn't know much about Mumbai 's history. One of my friend suggested this book to me.The book is very nicely written, traces Mumbai's history right from the days of Portuguese. It talks about how the seven island turned into single Mumbai, the rise of Parsi merchants, the cotton mills, the chawls and bungalows. It traces the emergence of many great writers of the city, rise and fall of communists, proliferation of shivsena.Recommended if you want to read about Mumbai
review 2: Mumbai Fables by Gyan Prakash is a narrative on the history of the much exploited metropolis of Mumbai. It is an informative read that throws light on the even
... morets that have shaped Mumbai from the scattered seven islands that it once was to the throbbing chaos of human life and struggle that it today has become.The language of the book is at times not very pleasant on the eye and mind. On various occasions despite revealing interesting trivia, the language gives it a scientific and text book like feel making those parts cumbersome and tedious to get through. It could well be that the writer has deliberately done so to highlight the factual and researched nature of the book.Having said that the book does not reveal much of what was already not out there in a very large public domain. However for the uninitiated and especially those who inhabit the city it is a matter of great necessity to be aware of the life this city has lived. From 1408 when Vasco Da Gama first came here to the Portuguese rule to the British to the post colonial times from the leftest mill age to the saffron Sena rage... its a leafing through the scars and stains the inhabitants of Mumbai have given her. I liked it only for the information on Mumbai it refreshed in me... the same however can be done on wikipedia too! less
Reviews (see all)
vish
Amazing. Informative but not ponderous, reads at times like a thriller. Couldn't put it down.
jennfenn
really eerie, revealing the dread profile of the dream city. scary at times
nishatara01
Read the book in a class taught by the professor. Nough said.
shannon
A city worthy of this book and a book fitting for the city
kconser
Nice read but still Mumbai remains an enigma to me
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