by J.G. Farrell
First published 1993
The Collector and his fellow British colonists live comfortably in their Victorian outpost at Krishnapur, certain of their superiority over the native population. Reports arrive of Muslim soldiers rebelling against British rule across India in 1857, but the colonial community dismisses these distant troubles. They trust in their military might and moral authority to protect them from any real danger. Then the rebellion reaches Krishnapur itself. The British find themselves trapped inside their compound as rebel forces surround them. Cut off from reinforcements and supplies, the colonists must defend their lives with whatever weapons they can find. As the siege drags on, their confidence crumbles. The Collector watches his orderly world collapse as hunger, disease, and terror take hold. The brutal reality of colonial rule becomes clear when the roles reverse and the British face the violence they once wielded over others.
Genres: historical, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: India, Krishnapur
Period: 1857
320 pages · Paperback · Phoenix
Content warnings: colonialism, violence