India

“A fittingly vigorous and colorful book about what it means to live in India six decades after the nation freed itself from British rule.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
 
“French mingles historical analysis with on-the-spot reportage, aiming to capture the country in all its teeming, volatile complexity. The result is rich, engaging and indeed multi-hued.”
—Los Angeles Times
 
“A well-informed and well-crafted portrait. . . . [French is] a skilled interviewer who writes with a descriptive flair.”
—The Boston Globe
 
“Perceptive. . . . French goes beyond the obvious. . . . India is a burgeoning nation with an inspiring message to the struggling people of the world: It gets better.”
—The Christian Science Monitor
 
“Sharply observed. . . . An accomplished portrait of momentous times in a remarkable country. . . . French is a fine reporter, with an appealing fascination for all things Indian, as his book makes clear.”
—The Economist
 
“It is a funny, witty book; also dense, gripping, thrilling. What blazes through from each page is French’s absolute and uncondescending engagement with India, Indians and the mindboggling plurality of practices.”
—The Times (London)
 
“Fizzing with wit, insight and infectious curiosity. . . . A riveting read. . . . One suspects that French could not pen a boring passage if he tried. . . . A thoroughly enjoyable romp through six momentous decades.”
—The Wall Street Journal Asia
 
“Vivid. . . . An impressive study of India since independence.”
—The Telegraph (London)
 
“Admirable. . . . There are many Indias, and French sets out, with enthusiasm and empathy, to encounter as many as he can find.”
—The Spectator
 
“Complex. . . . Stirringly accurate. . . . French offers a fascinating analysis, revealing a deeper truth.”
—The Independent (London)
 
“Lives up to its promise. . . . It’s not just readable; it’s gripping. . . . French’s writing is touchingly evocative at times . . . and hilarious at others. . . . If you’re Indian, reading the book is like learning the history of your country in four days.”
—New Indian Express
 
“French is the brilliant enfant terrible who can get away with heresies because they are embedded in his deep affection for and intimate knowledge of India.”
—Business Standard