The Best Books About India and Madhya Pradesh
India's literary history is one of the oldest and most diverse in the world, stretching back over thousands of years: so much so, that narrowing down a list of the best books about India is quite the challenge. Here, we recommend a few of our favourites, including in-depth histories, gripping novels, modern classics and personal travelogues. Our selection covers the region of Madhya Pradesh, home to the Bengal tiger and hundreds of other species, as well as stories from across the country.
The Jungle Book
By Rudyard Kipling
Kipling’s classic collection of stories brings the Seoni region of Madhya Pradesh to life through the adventures of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves. The atmospheric stories explore the complex relationship between man and nature.
Wild And Wilful
By Neha Sinha
Conservationist Neha Sinha profiles fifteen of India's most iconic - and often misunderstood - species, from the Bengal tiger to the great Indian bustard. She tells the stories of how these animals survive in a rapidly developing landscape and why their coexistence with humans is so vital.
Incarnations: A History of India in 50 Lives
By Sunil Khilnani
Khilnani explores the lives of 50 remarkable Indians, from the Buddha to Dhirubhai Ambani, some famous and some unjustly forgotten. Through these vivid portraits, he reveals how their impact is still felt across the country today.
The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World
By William Dalrymple
In his most recent book, the bestselling author traces the profound influence of Indian ideas, from mathematics to religion, as they spread across the globe along ancient trade routes. It is a deeply researched yet highly readable account of how India became an intellectual powerhouse.
Saraswati
By Gurnaik Johal
Johal pieces together multiple narratives, telling the stories of seven relatives across the globe, all brought together in the rapidly changing Punjab region of India.
A Suitable Boy
By Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth's modern classic follows the story of Lata and her mother's attempts to find her a suitable husband. Set in the newly independent India of the 1950s, it explores family life, politics and social change.
The Commonwealth of Cricket
By Ramachandra Guha
Part memoir and part history, Guha tracks his lifelong obsession with cricket against the backdrop of India’s evolving social and political identity. It is a love letter to India's most revered sport.
Around India in 80 Trains
By Monisha Rajesh
Rajesh recounts her 40,000-kilometre journey using India’s vast railway network to rediscover the country of her birth. From luxury expresses to overcrowded local commuter trains, this travelogue offers a vibrant view of Indian life.
Field Guide to Indian Mammals
By Vivek Menon
A comprehensive companion for any wildlife enthusiast, this guide covers more than 400 species found across the Indian subcontinent. With detailed descriptions and colour photographs, Menon makes the diverse fauna of the region accessible to all.
A Passage to India
By E.M. Forster
Forster explores the racial tensions and cultural misunderstandings of the British Raj through the story of Dr. Aziz and his ill-fated visit to the Marabar Caves. It remains a poignant, classic critique of colonialism.
India: A History
By John Keay
This comprehensive history spans five millennia, from the Harappan civilisation to the modern era. It's essential reading for understanding how various dynasties, religions and colonial powers shaped the subcontinent.
An Area of Darkness
By V.S. Naipaul
In this personal travelogue, Naipaul records his first visit to his ancestral homeland in the 1960s. His observations provide a raw perspective on the complexities of Indian society at the time.
These are just a few of the books about India that we've enjoyed, but we could easily recommend dozens more, including The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga and Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor.
If you'd like to discover the vibrant, diverse land of India, learn more about our journeys through the highlands of Madhya Pradesh, home to the wilderness that inspired The Jungle Book.
