Under the Sun Impressions of Indian Cities / The High-Road of Empire: Water-colour and pen-and-ink sketches of India

a) Perceval Landon, Under the Sun Impressions of Indian Cities: With a Chapter Dealing With Later Life of Nana Sahib, New York: Doubleday Page And Co., 1907

xii + 288 pages including 65 black and white plates and partly coloured frontispiece, original cloth binding
10 x 6 x 1.5 in (24 x 15 x 4 cm)

"Upon the title-page I have placed Sir John's comment, which to this day remains the beginning and the end of all Indian knowledge. These chapters have been written in the course of annual wanderings over India during the last five years, and their intention is to indicate - if the unhappy phrase must be used the widely different local colour that distinguishes one Indian city from another. Under the Sun is not a record of the late tour of the Prince of Wales, nor is it in any sense a guide-book. But as a companion to that invaluable volume it may perhaps be of use to those who find a difficulty in making a picture out of the wealth of detailed Indian information which every traveller now possesses. There are also some tales. The chapter dealing with the hitherto unknown later days of Nana Sahib may seem somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the book. I am, however, confident that, on the contrary, these will prove to no few the most interesting pages in the volume, and my excuse for inserting them here must be that their small compass which I did not wish to expand by adding in any way to the bald historical facts that are here presented for the first time made their separate publication somewhat difficult. I owe thanks to many both in India and at home, and especially I wish to acknowledge the kindness of the proprietors of the Daily Telegraph, in whose columns I was enabled to sum up in a series of letters a part of what is here recast in a more permanent form". - (Preface)

Perceval Landon (1869 1927) was an English writer, traveller and journalist, now best remembered for his classic and much reprinted ghost story Thurnley Abbey. Perceval Landon was born in Hastings on 29 March 1869. He was the son of the Rev. Edward Henry Landon and his wife, Caroline. His first name was the surname of his mother, daughter of the Rev. and Hon. Arthur Philip Perceval, through whom he was collaterally related to Spencer Perceval. His own family of Landon was of French Huguenot descent, having migrated to London in the 1680s at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

He was also the author of a book of 13 original short stories, Raw Edges, published by William Heinemann, London, in 1908, with lithograph illustrations by Alberto Martini. The most successful and enduring of these stories was Thurnley Abbey; but also included were psychological suspense stories Railhead and The Gyroscope (which is about a horrifying juggernaut running amok in a crowded auditorium).

b) A H Hallam Murray, The High-Road of Empire: Water-colour and pen-and-ink sketches of India, London: John Murray, 1905

xxix; [1]; 453 pages; [1]. Illustrated with 47 plates in colour with captioned tissue guards and numerous in-text line drawings; publisher's ornately blind-stamped orange cloth, gilt titles and tooling to a blue cloth panel to spine, blue endpapers, top edge gilt
9.6 x 7.2 in (24 cm x 18 cm)

The High-Road of Empire: Water-colour and pen-and-ink sketches of India, penned by A H Hallam Murray and published by John Murray in 1905, offers a captivating journey through the vibrant landscapes and diverse cultures of India at the height of the British Empire. This remarkable book is a testament to the author's keen eye for detail and artistic prowess, as it is enriched with a breathtaking collection of watercolor and pen-and-ink sketches that vividly capture the essence of India's mesmerizing scenery, architectural wonders, and the people who called this land home. With a blend of insightful commentary and visual artistry, Murray's work immerses readers in the India of a bygone era, providing a unique perspective on the colonial experience and the enduring allure of this enchanting subcontinent. The High-Road of Empire stands as a timeless testament to the beauty, complexity, and historical significance of India, as seen through the eyes and talent of a gifted artist and storyteller.

(Set of two)

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