by NPR Staff
In 1839, Great Britain and Russia were playing the world map like a chessboard — and for no reason other than geography, Afghanistan got caught in the middle. In Return of a King, historian William Dalrymple tells the story of Britain's calamitous invasion.
by Miranda Kennedy
India has catapulted to the world stage. Yet for its meteoric economic rise, it remains beset by social problems. NPR editor Miranda Kennedy recommends three books that don't shy from what she sees as the most contentious Indian issue: the caste system.
by Cord Jefferson
The days are getting shorter, and it's hard to breeze though pages like you did on vacation just a few short weeks ago. Critic Cord Jefferson offers five nonfiction titles — true stories that will gently ease you out of the summer months, and back into the routines of fall.
In his latest book, British journalist William Dalrymple profiles nine Indian religious devotees — from a Jain nun, to an idol carver, to a Buddhist monk. Nine Lives surveys the subcontinent's rich religious topography by focusing on individual journeys of personal faith.
Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and Terms of Use. NPR reserves the right to use the comments we receive, in whole or in part, and to use the commenter's name and location, in any medium. See also the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Community FAQ.
