Alex von Tunzelmann

Indian Summer

1. IDEA 1

   Personal lives shaped a political end

   Von Tunzelmann tells the story of the end of British rule through the people at its centre: the Mountbattens, Nehru, Gandhi and Jinnah. She shows how personalities, friendships and rivalries influenced decisions that affected millions of lives.

2. IDEA 2

   The Mountbattens arrived with a deadline

   Louis Mountbatten came to India in 1947 as the last viceroy, with his wife Edwina, under orders to hand over power. The author describes his charm, ambition and determination to leave quickly and with Britain's reputation intact.

3. IDEA 3

   Nehru and Edwina grew close

   The book explores the deep friendship, and possibly romance, between Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten. The author suggests this relationship gave Nehru unusual access to the viceroy, which troubled leaders on the Pakistani side.

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