Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)
Genre: History, Travel Writing, Non-Fiction, Cultural Studies

Book Review:
William Dalrymple's ''City of Djinns'' is a dazzling, dazzlingly clever, and utterly enchanting exploration of Delhi, a city he brilliantly describes as a place where the past is not buried but lives and breathes alongside the present. It is a book that defies easy categorization, blending history, travelogue, memoir, and journalism into a seamless and captivating narrative.

The conceit is simple yet brilliant: Dalrymple spends a year in Delhi, and as he navigates the chaotic, vibrant, and often bewildering modern city, he peels back its layers of history. With him, we encounter a cast of unforgettable characters—from Sufi mystics and eunuchs to Persian scholars and a woman who stayed on after the British Raj. Each encounter sparks a journey into the past, revealing the ghosts of the many cities that lie beneath the Delhi of today.

Dalrymple's scholarship is immense, but his prose is light, witty, and deeply humane. He has a true historian's eye for detail and a storyteller's gift for bringing the past to life. Whether he's exploring the ruins of Tughlaqabad, uncovering the secrets of the Red Fort, or simply chatting with his Punjabi landlord, his affection for the city and its people is palpable. ''City of Djinns'' is more than just a book about a place; it is a love letter to Delhi, a profound meditation on history, and a truly magical reading experience. It will make you fall in love with a city you may have never even visited.