Splendours of Imperial India

Download or read book Splendours of Imperial India written by Andreas Volwahsen and published by Prestel Publishing. This book was released on 2004 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An illustrated survey of British colonial architecture that once dominated the landscape of the Indian subcontinent, this book tells a rich and complicated history of imperialism. One of the most revealing legacies of Britain's long history in India is the colonial architecture from the two centuries preceding the struggle for independence. Built to house both occupiers and occupied alike, these imposing buildings, including palaces, mansions, clubhouses, and government offices, represented a hybrid of Western and Eastern sensibilities as their architects sought to plant the flag of British dominance in a foreign culture. Splendours of Imperial India focuses on India's towns and cities, particularly Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, providing countless illustrations, sketches, and photographs of the many impressive buildings and ruins that dot India's coastlines, hillsides, and valleys. Andreas Volwahsen's informative commentaries highlight the considerable achievements of these magnificent structures while offering insight into the stories these buildings tell about their own and India's history.