This is one of the best books in modern English Literature. It is much better than the purported magic realism of Salman Rushdie et al and I believe it is on a par with Marquez at his best. The only reason it is not better known is because it was published in India alone, and did not get a more general release.A brilliant skip through the ages written in a mixture of poetic and earthy prose and as usual Khushwant Singh does not shrink from the basic job of a writer - to face history, events, characters with honesty and to try to reveal some truths about the world and the people and places depicted.
I should however write a few cautionary words. This book is not for the feeble-minded, the avoiders of truth and beauty, the bourgeois shilly-shalliers, the intellectual and moral pygmies, those who like to look like they love literature but do not, or cannot, read it. If you are worried that you might be one of these people then read the introduction to ’’Our Favourite Indian Stories’’ by Neelam Kumar and if you understand and appreciate it then you will enjoy this book. Alternatively, a shorter method is if you understand and appreciate the title to this review you should enjoy Delhi (as I am sure the equally good writer of the original quote would have).
If you think this is extreme, everyone I have shown this book to who has read it in London has enjoyed it and thought it was good, if not great. It would seem only Indians in India do not appreciate one of their greatest writers. Still, in a way, it is a compliment to be unappreciated by those who are not worthy of expressing their appreciation...