The Start of an Epic Series
Jewel in the Crown is the first in a four part series about the last days of the Raj prior to Indian independence after WWII. I first became interested in the series after renting the
epic BBC production which I enjoyed over several weekends. I would suggest viewing the DVDs first, because it helps set the background. The book tends to skip around between characters and situations that span several years. The rape of Daphne Manners is seen through many eyes; military and civilian, men and women. However, that being said, this book delves into the thoughts that the characters have and explains their actions in a way that the mini-series never could. The author, Paul Scott, died before the accolades for his masterpieces began to be extolled. It is too bad, because now this novel and the other three that expand upon the central events, are now widely recognized as masterpieces.
The events described in this book effect world politics to this very day. Paul Scott lived
in India as part of the military, and took several trips back to interview people living during
the last days of the Raj. His characters, such as Merrick and Kumar, are such a part of his own upbringing that he paints them in the most intense colors I've encountered in a long time. This book and the other three in the series are must reads for anyone interested in historical fiction.