Between 1930 and 1933, while serving prison sentences for his part in the civil disobedience movement, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a long series of letters to his daughter Indira, then in her early teens. Collected and published in 1934, they form a history of humanity from ancient civilisations to the rise of fascism and the Great Depression.
Nehru deliberately avoids a Europe-centred story. He gives substantial attention to China, Persia, the Arab world, Southeast Asia and India alongside Greece, Rome and modern Europe, and he treats empires, revolutions, economic systems and ideas such as nationalism, democracy and socialism. His sympathies are clear: he is anti-imperialist, critical of capitalism's excesses and excited by scientific progress.
Because the letters are addressed to a child, the tone is conversational and explanatory, though the scope is vast. Some facts and judgements have dated, but the book remains a remarkable feat of memory under confinement and a revealing portrait of a nationalist's worldview. It also offers an intimate picture of a father trying to educate a daughter he could not see.
Book details
| Author | Jawaharlal Nehru |
|---|---|
| First published | 1934 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | History |
| Type | Non-fiction |
| Pages (approx.) | 1000 |
| Setting | Written in British Indian prisons, 1930-1933; covers world history from antiquity to the 1930s |
Themes
- World civilisations
- Anti-imperialism
- Letters to a child
- Rise and fall of empires
- Socialism and democracy
Who should read it
Curious readers who want a sweeping, non-Eurocentric overview of history in a warm, personal voice.