An Englishman (and his mother) abroad

A memoir. At the invitation of a Punjabi friend, the author takes his mother to celebrate her ninetieth birthday in India. Neil Rathmell writes poignantly and vividly about his mother's reaction to India, about India itself and about being English in a country that England once ruled. He introduces us to a cavalcade of characters from India's history and mythology - from Ranjit Singh, the last ruler of Punjab, to Prince Half-a-son, a character in an old Punjabi story; from the Maharajah of Patiala, with his collection of Rolls Royces, medals and concubines, to Didho Ranjha and Heer Sayal, the Romeo and Juliet of Punjab; from Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, to Udam Singh, avenger of the massacre at Amritsar. "Highly evocative." "Conjures India with humour and delicate insights." "The Indian stories are exquisitely told."