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The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa
The mid-eighteenth century began with the Marathas as the paramount power in India, and in the next two decades, they rose in power and prestige. In the Carnatic, Bengal, Rajputana, Malwa, Bundelkhand they were supreme, and in Delhi, the Marathas ruled while the Mughal king reigned. In this period when Nanasaheb Peshwa was at the helm, the Maratha power reached its zenith. But that was not the entire story. The events of the mid-eighteenth century are pivotal, and determined the course of the next five decades. The rise of the Europeans in the south and the east added a new dimension, so that this epoch eventually emerged as the crossroad of Indian history. This book narrates that engrossing story. The book is published in hardcover, with over 40 colour pictures on art plates and 27 maps and illustrations. The 500 page book is copiously annotated with over a thousand references and has a bibliography and a glossary along with an introduction to principal characters and important genealogies.
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The Complete Sam Spade
"The stuff that dreams are made of". This volume collects all the works featuring Sam Spade, the quintessential hard boiled detective including the iconic The Maltese Falcon, that has acquired cult status and has had four film versions including the Humphrey Bogart version that regularly tops most noir classic lists. Alongside The Maltese Falcon which featured a memorable cast of characters in pursuit of a jewel-encrusted statuette are the other stories starring the laconic Sam Spade in various shades of noir. This volume collects all the works featuring Sam Spade, the quintessential hard boiled detective including the iconic The Maltese Falcon, that has acquired cult status and has had four film versions including the Humphrey Bogart version that regularly tops most noir classic lists. Alongside The Maltese Falcon which featured a memorable cast of characters in pursuit of a jewel-encrusted statuette are the other stories starring the laconic Sam Spade in various shades of noir. Dashiell Hammett's crime thriller and its hard-boiled hero Sam Spade influenced everyone from Chandler to Le Carré ... The Maltese Falcon is the Hammett novel that jumps from the pages of its genre and into literature "-- GUARDIAN "His name remains one of the most important and recognizable in the crime fiction genre. Hammett set the standard for much of the work that would follow" -- INDEPENDENT
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Vanity Bagh
Vanity Bagh is the story of Imran Jabbari who is an aging don. at the very end of his career, he decides to form a gang called 51/2 men. This gang is formed in their mohalla called Vanity Bagh. What starts off as a simple task of dispatching scooters that have been stolen, to different parts of the city, ends up with Imran and his gang being held responsible for planting scooter bombs. These bombs have brought about major destruction in the city. In a twist of events, Imran is arrested for his alleged involvement in the serial bombing of 11/11. During his time in captivity, Imran plans to pass his time planning his escape. After this, he is given the assignment of bookmaking, which prompts him to put pen to paper and pour out his thoughts concerning Vanity Bagh in a book. During the course of this exercise, he follows the history of bad blood that has existed between Vanity Bagh and Mehendi, which is predominantly a Hindu neighborhood. Imran's stories are full of bloodshed and violence, which also includes communal violence, which has played a major role in the place. for readers who have a penchant for dark humor, this story is one that will live up to their expectations in every way, giving them a story that is intriguing and unique
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Solstice at Panipat
'Solstice at Panipat' is an authentic account of the third battle of Panipat fought between the Marathas and the Afghans on 14 January 1761. The sun stood still as the mighty powers clashed for the empire of India in the killing fields of Panipat. Hundreds of thousands of men died in twelve hours in their titanic struggle for supremacy. One of them emerged victorious; yet it was a pyrrhic victory. This is that story, researched meticulously by Uday S.Kulkarni from scores of primary and secondary sources in English, Persian and marathi, spread across many tomes dating back to the 17th century. With a foreword by Ninad Bedekar, over two dozen maps and several colour photographs of personalities and locations; it is a lucid and balanced account of the last battle of Panipat.
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The Era of Baji Rao
This book gives an account of his times, beginning from the seventeenth century; describing the retreat of the Mughal power in the first two decades of the eighteenth century and the arrival of the Marathas on the threshold of paramountcy. With maps and pictures, the book takes the reader through this remarkable story of how an Empire of the Deccan reached the gates of Delhi.
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The Correspondent
Sybil Van Antwerp is seventy-three, slowly losing her sight and always writing letters . . . To her children. Her favourite authors. Her ex-sister-in-law. The journalist poking into her past. Her doctor. Suitors. Kindly neighbours. The infuriating gardening club. All receive Sybil’s witty, wise correspondence, rich with everyday concerns. But there is one letter that she has never sent. It concerns the darkest period of her life. To post it, Sybil must find forgiveness within herself. The hardest letter to write is the one you’d never dare to send.
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Felicia's Favourites A Mother's Secrets
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with a billion copies of her novels sold to date. Her international bestsellers include Far From Home, Never Say Never and Trial By Fire. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California.
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Development Dialogues: Journeys, Ideas, and the Makers of Modern India
What does it take to build a nation? In Development Dialogues, industrialist and philanthropist Dattaraj V. Salgaocar engages thirteen of India's most distinguished minds in a series of wide-ranging conversations on leadership, science, diplomacy, governance, innovation, public service and nation-building. Through candid discussions with some of the architects of modern India, the book explores how ambition, adversity, conviction and purpose shape individual lives and national progress. Featuring conversations with leading figures including Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, Dr Anil Kakodkar, Dr S. Jaishankar, Harish Salve, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Ritu Karidhal and others, this volume offers rare insights into the ideas, decisions and experiences that have influenced India's development journey. Thought-provoking and inspiring, Development Dialogues provides readers with a unique perspective on the people helping to shape India's future. 💡 What Readers Will Learn • Leadership principles from accomplished national figures • How innovation drives economic and social development • Lessons from science, diplomacy, law and entrepreneurship • The role of vision, resilience and values in public life • Insights into India's evolving position in the world • Personal experiences behind major national achievements
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The Greatest Indian Animal Stories Ever Told
For centuries, the animal kingdom has captured the Indian imagination. And the land of the Panchatantra and the Jataka Tales continues to give rise to literary masterpieces. Some of the greatest stories in modern Indian literature have animals as protagonists. In The Greatest Indian Animal Stories Ever Told, Sumana Roy collects the best fiction written about animals from the past hundred years or so. Beginning with Premchand’s classic, ‘A Tale of Two Bullocks’, and taking in its sweep some of the greatest pieces of literary fiction to have originated in India, including ‘Rikki-Tikki-Tavi’ by Rudyard Kipling, ‘Mahesh’ by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, ‘The Mark of Vishnu’ by Khushwant Singh, ‘A Horse and Two Goats’ by R. K. Narayan, ‘Poonachi’ by Perumal Murugan, ‘The Crocodile and the Monkey’ by Vikram Seth, ‘The Reflections of a Hen in Her Last Hour’ by Paul Zacharia, ‘The Last Tiger’ by Ruskin Bond and ‘Elephant at Sea’ by Kanishk Tharoor, the stories in The Greatest Indian Animal Stories Ever Told are guaranteed to dazzle the reader.
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How Nations Fail And The Unmaking of America’s World
The question ‘how nations fail’ has intrigued generations. Just as the possibility of a nation’s rise has been a source of excitement. Yet, the perfect formula for a nation’s ascendance eludes the world. Instead, every so often, failure stalks nations. Now the plunge looms larger than ever. Ours is not the first time a number of countries could face financial challenges in a cascade. But this is certainly the first time an entire world might fail. The big concern now is where is the world headed. The possibility of a global dive into the unknown is real. How Nations Fail is about that consequence. Throughout this remarkable book, Rajiv Dogra shows exceptional ability to critically think through the national fault lines: why they happened, and how civilizations, empires and nations collapsed. It is about some of the most anxious enquiries of our troubled times. Will America fail and will China rise even more? It is also about the rest of us: where in this new world will we fit in? A brilliantly told feast of words, How Nations Fail is thought-provoking history at its best.
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Rama Rajya : Creating an Ideal Bharat
What can the ideal kingdom of Rama teach a modern nation about governance, justice and Leadership? For centuries, Rama Rajya has stood as one of the most enduring ideals in Indian civilization—a vision of a society founded on dharma, welfare, harmony, accountability and compassionate governance. In Rama Rajya: Creating an Ideal Bharat, Prafull Goradia and Jaganniwas Iyer revisit this timeless concept, examining its relevance not merely as a spiritual aspiration, but as a framework for statecraft and public life. Drawing primarily on the Valmiki Ramayana and informed by political inquiry, the authors explore the principles that shaped Rama’s polity, from kingship and diplomacy to warfare and governance. By placing these ideas within a broader civilizational and geopolitical context, the book reclaims Rama Rajya as a living model for ethical leadership and nation-building in contemporary India. Inside this book, you’ll discover 🏹 The political vision of Rama Rajya: Explore the foundations of an ideal state rooted in dharma, justice and public welfare. 📜 Governance through the lens of the Ramayana: Understand how the epic offers enduring insights into leadership, responsibility and statecraft. ⚖️ Dharma above power: Examine a model of governance where moral law guides political authority. 🤝 Kingship, diplomacy and public duty: Discover the principles that shaped governance, alliances and decision-making in Rama’s era. 🌏 A civilizational framework for Bharat: Explore how ancient ideas continue to inform contemporary debates on governance and nationhood. 🏛 Rama Rajya in the modern world: Reflect on the relevance of ethical governance in addressing present-day political and social challenges. Why this book matters • Reinterprets the concept of Rama Rajya through the lens of governance and statecraft • Draws extensively from the Valmiki Ramayana and Indic political thought • Bridges civilizational wisdom with contemporary public policy questions • Offers a thought-provoking vision for ethical leadership and nation-building A Blueprint for an Ideal Bharat Written by parliamentarian, author and political thinker Prafull Goradia and researcher–analyst Jaganniwas Iyer, Rama Rajya combines historical inquiry, political analysis and civilizational reflection. For readers interested in the Ramayana, governance, Indian political thought and the future of Bharat, this book offers a compelling exploration of one of India’s most enduring ideals. Because the pursuit of an ideal society begins with understanding the principles that sustain it.
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Giorgia’s Vision
What does it mean to defend identity in an age of globalization? Can nations preserve their culture while navigating the pressures of modern politics and economic change? In Giorgia’s Vision, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offers a deeply personal and political reflection on these defining questions of our time. Structured as a series of candid conversations with journalist Alessandro Sallusti, the book moves beyond conventional political memoir into a broader conversation on leadership, national identity, meritocracy, family, faith, and the future of Western civilization. Speaking from the office of the Italian Prime Minister at Palazzo Chigi, Meloni reflects on her journey from a working-class neighbourhood in Rome to becoming Italy’s first female Prime Minister, while also laying out the ideological foundations that shape her politics. Across chapters that broach autobiography, political philosophy, and cultural commentary, Meloni discusses Europe’s identity crisis, the tensions between nationalism and globalism, migration, the role of institutions, economic sovereignty, and the erosion of traditional social structures. The book also offers a rare insight into the emotional and personal dimensions of political power, including the loneliness of leadership, the burden of public expectations, and the sacrifices demanded by public life. Through reflections on figures ranging from Joan of Arc to Margaret Thatcher, Meloni positions her politics within a larger conservative tradition shaped by resilience and cultural continuity. Deeply introspective, Giorgia’s Vision is a manifesto on the meaning of identity in the twenty-first century. It is a book that speaks to the anxieties and aspirations shaping Europe and the wider West today. • A Rare Window into Europe’s Most Watched Political Leader Step inside Palazzo Chigi through intimate conversations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as she reflects on power, identity, leadership, and the future of Italy and Europe. • A Personal Journey from Rome’s Working-Class Neighbourhoods to National Leadership Meloni recounts her rise from humble beginnings to becoming Italy’s first female Prime Minister, revealing the determination, sacrifice, and convictions that shaped her path. • A Bold Conversation on Identity and the West From globalization and migration to family, faith, and national sovereignty, the book explores the ideological battles transforming Europe and redefining Western politics. • Candid, Unfiltered, and Provocative In conversations with journalist Alessandro Sallusti, Meloni speaks openly about criticism, media narratives, public expectations, and the emotional cost of leadership.
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The Trees of My Country: A Natural History of India in 50 Trees
Trees are great storytellers and living historians of place. By paying attention to trees, you can begin to hear the stories they tell, the histories they document, and the places they describe. They shape their surroundings even as they themselves are shaped by their environment. India has long been a land of remarkable trees—known for their elegant or majestic presence, colourful or verdant foliage, attractive or fragrant flowers, and their panoplies of fruit. The set of fifty native species in this book, representing India’s rich tapestry of tree species, takes readers on an extraordinary journey spanning the subcontinent, through varied landscapes and lives. Building on the foundations of knowledge established by botany and taxonomy, this book unravels the intricacies of ecology and natural history of trees to appreciate their connections to the places they inhabit, to other species, and to people. It traces how changes in the world wrought by people influence trees and ultimately the people themselves.
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Sunama
All parents wish to give a unique and meaningful name to their child. In India, a Sanskrit name is mostly preferred. Often parents turn to the Internet, which is replete with misinformation on Sanskrit names. Popular name websites too mispresent meaning of many Sanskrit words and sometimes even list names from other languages, presenting them as Sanskrit. Some bestselling books on Sanskrit names also carry such mistakes. Parents are misled by such sources and end up giving a kunama ('a bad name') to their child.Each Sanskrit sunama-or 'a good name'-has a mathematical derivation (vyutpatti) and/or a mystical explanation (nirukti). This work by Sanskrit scholar Nityananda Misra is a wonderful collection of more than 3,000 sunamas, most of which are rare or unused today. He studied more than 70,000 names in seventy-seven authentic Sanskrit texts, including seven Vedic sa?hitas, ten Pura?as, the Ramaya?a, the Mahabharata, seven ko?as, three grammar works and thirty-eight sahasranamas for this compilation. Each name entry includes the Devanagari and IAST spellings, gender, meaning, and the person or deity to whom the name belongs.A work of immense dedication and accurate research, this is a must-have for parents seeking unique names for their child.
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Corporate Avatars
How to deal with Quirks at work. If you have ever worked in a corporate world, you are likely to have been confounded by some of its more curious characters – the sentimental dame with her sappy reminiscing, the bumbling accountant who can never seem to figure it out on his own and the freshly minted management graduate who is a walking encyclopedia – to name just a few. Getting along is not always easy. But don’t lose hope just yet. Corporate Avatars tackles the oddities at the workplace in an exhilarating read, giving you just the smart essentials you need to survive such folk and make your way up the ladder. Spirited and saucy, this undeniably helpful book reveals the quirks of more than 40 colorful personalities you are likely to meet at the workplace. It is the perfect compass with which to navigate the rough seas of the business world.
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Daiva: Discovering the Extraordinary World of Spirit Worship
The famous Kola performances of Tulu Nadu involve dancers who invite powerful, sacred spirits to possess them. Through the performers, and surrounded by vibrant colours and striking visuals, these spirits - known as Daiva - may settle disputes, provide guidance, grant blessings and pass judgement. However, there is so much more to it than art and devotion. From Panjurli, the benevolent boar spirit to Bobbarya, guardian of the sea, this book explores it all: the kinds of Daiva, their stories, their individual natures and the ways in which they come to inhabit the devout. In Daiva, bestselling author K Hari Kumar, brings you stories of powerful immortals along with details of their worship through mystifying rituals - all of which are known to leave onlookers awe-struck.
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All Drama No Queen
Farida's parents passed away in an accident when she was twelve. And for years, she's had to fend off Reshma Phuppu, a distant relative plotting to gain control of her parents' house in Bangalore. When all the drama gets too much, she runs away to stay with her best friend, Priya. Farida deeply feels the absence of a family, and only has memories of her distant cousin, Irshad. She's had a crush on him since she was a twelve-year-old, but they lost contact when her parents died. Nearly two decades later, Priya's boyfriend, Ajay, serendipitously finds Irshad. Now, Irshad is a doctor and lives in Mumbai. Farida is thrilled to reconnect with him, but is disappointed when she learns that he's engaged to another woman. But as Irshad and Farida meet and reminisce, it becomes hard to deny their deep bond. As things get more complicated between Farida, Irshad and his fiancée, Shagufta, Farida must find a way to deal with all the drama in her life.
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So Good They Can't Ignore You
Cal Newport's clearly-written manifesto flies in the face of conventional wisdom by suggesting that it should be a person's talent and skill - and not necessarily their passion - that determines their career path. Newport, who graduated from Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa) and earned a PhD. from MIT, contends that trying to find what drives us, instead of focusing on areas in which we naturally excel, is ultimately harmful and frustrating to job seekers. The title is a direct quote from comedian Steve Martin who, when once asked why he was successful in his career, immediately replied: "Be so good they can't ignore you" and that's the main basis for Newport's book. Skill and ability trump passion. Inspired by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs' famous Stanford University commencement speech in which Jobs urges idealistic grads to chase their dreams, Newport takes issue with that advice, claiming that not only is this advice Pollyannish, but that Jobs himself never followed his own advice. From there, Newport presents compelling scientific and contemporary case study evidence that the key to one's career success is to find out what you do well, where you have built up your 'career capital,' and then to put all of your efforts into that direction.
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Mums, Mental Health and Milestones
How does the health of the mother reflect on the child? Can the baby learn from the mother in the womb? Every time a pregnant woman or a new mom reaches out expressing her stress levels and challenges, society, family and friends mostly blame the hormones for her response. Why does it have to be stereotyped? This third book on pregnancy by the author is a holistic guide educating expecting mothers and their families about the significance of mental health, emotional nurturing and the physical well-being of mothers. The book offers a new-age perspective about tackling the often-neglected aspects of pregnancy like mood swings, anxiety and fear of childbirth, personal stress levels, work-life pressure, post-natal blues, etc. Backed up by research, real-life relatable, emotional case studies, activities, checklists and diagnosis dealt with by the author, the book is sure to make you show a lot more compassion and a new perspective towards childbirth itself.
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Murder Under a Red Moon
When new bride Kaveri Murthy reluctantly agrees to investigate a minor crime during the blood moon eclipse to please her domineering mother-in-law, she doesn't expect to stumble upon a murder - again. With anti-British sentiments on the rise, a charismatic religious leader growing in influence, and the fight for women's suffrage gaining steam, Bangalore is turning out to be a far more dangerous place than Kaveri ever imagined, and everyone's motives are suspect. Together with the Bangalore Detectives Club - a mixed bag of people including street urchins, nosy neighbours, an ex-prostitute and a policeman's wife - Kaveri once again sleuths in her sari and hunts for clues in her beloved 1920s Ford. But when Kaveri's life is suddenly put in danger, she realizes that she might be getting uncomfortably close to the truth. So she must now draw on her wits and find the killer -- before they find her...
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The Asura Way
In the age of Kali, you need a new path to achieve all that you dream of. What if someone told you that those age-old lessons on which you’ve based your whole life are ineffective today? What if they also told you that you could live a better, more fulfilling life by following the path of the Asuras? Is it not worth investigating what made the Asuras so successful against even the gods and trying to learn from them in this age of strife, chaos, and discord? In his first nonfiction work, Anand Neelakantan, the national bestselling author of Asura: Tale of the Vanquished, explores a contrarian way of living that makes more sense in this Kali Yuga. With great skill and logic, Anand shatters the myths associated with the so-called six enemies of the mind—anger, passion, greed, infatuation, pride, and competitive spirit. He explains how following conventional advice holds you back from achieving success and happiness in life. Using riveting examples from mythology, he demonstrates how these same six qualities can propel you in the direction of success and help you achieve your goals.
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Caught Up
Kai I’m a single dad and starting pitcher for Chicago’s MLB team. I’m stretched too thin, but I don’t want help raising my son. Each of his previous nannies only lasted a few weeks before I let them go. Now, my coach is putting his foot down by hiring the one person I can’t fire—his daughter. Miller Montgomery is the last woman I should fall for. Too wild, too young, and too unattached. Chicago is just a quick stop for her. I thought I’d be counting down the days until she left, but summer feels too short when I start thinking about forever. Miller As a high-end pastry chef who recently won the most prestigious award in my industry, I’m desperate to prove I deserve it. But with a new title comes new pressure, and I can’t create a fresh and inspiring dessert to save my life. With only two months to get back on track, I should be focusing in the kitchen, but instead, I let my dad talk me into using my time off to nanny for his star player’s kid. Kai Rhodes forgot how to have fun, and I’m eager to jog his memory. But when he and his son start to feel like home, I have to remind us both that my time in Chicago ends with the summer. Besides, I’ve always been a runner, and the last thing I want is to get caught.
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The Right Move
A spicy sports romance, following Indy and Ryan... fake-fating, accidental roommates, best friend's brother, found family, and a whole lot of spice!
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Girl in White Cotton
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2020 AND PUBLISHED IN THE UK AS BURNT SUGAR - Avni Doshi is a writer of surgical precision and sharp intelligence. This novel of mother-and-daughter resentments and the deep, intimate cuts of ancient family history gleams like a blade - both dangerous and beautiful. I loved it. - Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat, Pray, LoveTaut and unsettling, a dark, ferocious novel. - Fatima Bhutto, author of The RunawaysAntara has never understood her mother Tara's decisions - walking out on her marriage to follow a guru, living on the streets like a beggar, shacking up with an unknown artist, rebelling against society's expectations . . . But when Tara starts losing her memory, Antara searches for a way to make peace with their shared past, a past that haunts them both. As she relives her childhood in Pune in the eighties, the time she spent at a Catholic boarding school in the hills of Maharashtra, and her years as a young artist in Bombay, Antara comes up against her own fears and neuroses, realizing she might not be so different from Tara after all. Girl in White Cotton is a journey into shifting memories, altering identities, and the subjective nature of truth. Tracing the fragile line between familial devotion and deception, Avni Doshi's mesmerizing first novel will surprise and unsettle you.