William Dalrymple’s first book, In Xanadu, assumed classic status in the world of travel literature when it was published in 1990. It was the tale of his swashbuckling and erudite journey across the Middle East, Asia and China, accompanied by two other fresh-faced Cambridge graduates.

He then settled in Delhi for several years, from where he wrote and published an engaging portrait of the place, City of Dijanns. Dalrymple then collected a series of reflections, largely on India, some on Pakistan, which he made the basis for his book, The Age of Kali – Kali is a Hindu god of destruction, which sets the path for much of what follows in his book.

These collections though are not the leftovers from his other works. Deeply troubling and much more than the scholarly works of a former student explorer, they represent a very courageous collection of stories. For these, he has travelled far and wide to talk to those who have challenged the status quo across the Subcontinent’s villages and cities, often getting caught up in a world of violence and corruption.