CONDITION USED GOOD, STONES OF EMPIRE, THE BUILDINGS OF THE RAJ, HARDCOVER,1983

No empire in history built so diversely as the British Empire in India. From domestic and commercial buildings to military, educational, functional, and ornamental structures, the architectural legacy of British rule—spanning nearly three centuries from the first trading settlements to the end of the Raj—is both vast and varied. India was not just a colonial possession; it became deeply ingrained in the British national consciousness. Generations of Britons left behind enduring memorials in brick, stone, steel, and concrete.

The British attitude toward India was a complex mix of arrogance and homesickness, and this duality is evident in their architecture. Georgian terraces were modified for tropical climates, Victorian railway stations were infused with Oriental motifs, seaside villas were adapted for Himalayan weather, and everywhere, the architecture reflected the ambivalent nature of empire—a bewildering blend of benevolence and domination.

Stones of Empire is the first book to explore the full spectrum of British architecture in India—not as a dry catalogue, but as a vivid narrative. Jan Morris’s eloquent prose, complemented by Simon Winchester’s evocative photographs and insightful captions, brings to life these structures as more than just buildings—they become emotional and cultural artifacts of a bygone empire.

For travelers to India or readers journeying from their armchairs, this book reveals a unique story of architectural innovation, engineering prowess, and cultural adaptation that stands unmatched in human history.

Simon Winchester, a renowned journalist and author, is the foreign feature writer for The Sunday Times.

Jan Morris, hailed by Rebecca West as “perhaps the best descriptive writer of our times,” is the author of numerous acclaimed works on travel and place, including The Oxford Book of Oxford, Wales (Small Oxford Books), and Destinations.