Koh-i-Noor
The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond
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Koh-i-Noor
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Narrated by:
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Leighton Pugh
About this listen
The first comprehensive and authoritative history of the Koh-i-Noor, arguably the most celebrated and mythologised jewel in the world, from the internationally acclaimed and best-selling historians William Dalrymple and Anita Anand.
On 29 March 1849, the 10-year-old Maharajah of the Punjab was ushered into the magnificent Mirrored Hall at the centre of the great Fort in Lahore. There, in a public ceremony, the frightened but dignified child handed over to the British East India Company in a formal act of submission not only swathes of the richest land in India but also arguably the single most valuable object in the subcontinent: the celebrated Koh-i-Noor diamond. The Mountain of Light.
Under commission from the British East India Company, gossip from Delhi bazaars was woven into what would become the accepted history of the Koh-i-Noor. Now, for the first time, 150 years after it was written, this version is finally challenged, freeing the diamond from the fog of mythology which has clung to it for so long. The resulting history is one of greed, conquest, murder, torture, colonialism and appropriation through an impressive slice of South and Central Asian history. Masterly, powerful and erudite, this is history at its most compelling and invigorating.
©2017 Bloomsbury (P)2017 Audible, LtdListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Koh-i-Noor
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sue
- 04-07-17
Dalrymple's no holding back factual account
This was the missing piece of the puzzle in terms of attempting to find out the truth behind the Kohi Noor diamond. Absolutely no frills account on how the diamond left in its path so much wanton death and destruction. William Dalrymple as always a detailed historian putting forward the facts. Fascinating and both historically and currently important
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- m
- 13-10-18
The most famous diamond in the world...
and it's glorious journey across the centuries. Learnt a lot and feel conflicted as a British Sikh. Angry at the cunning and underhanded procurement by The British East India Company, this is now a shameful reminder and its mutilation and ultimate presence in The Tower and insult to its formidable past.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nemanja Stojanovic
- 29-03-21
Nice Listen
Good listen. It can be regarded as an introduction to Dalrymple’s anarchy. Follows the change of fortunes of dynasties and empires. I did not know much about the East India Company before listening to this book. It was worth my time.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-05-18
Good
Enjoyed the chapters regarding maharaja Dulip Singh and his relationship with the logans and Victoria
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sabs
- 30-12-22
The story of the diamond is one for the ages...
The story of the diamond is one for the ages however the delivery of it very dry. Not asking for drama but a bit more storytelling would make this a bigger success. I loved learning the details of this famous diamond to make sense of the claims on the media.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Doctor
- 04-07-17
Extraordinary
Have you listened to any of Leighton Pugh’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Generally good, but PLEASE PLEASE pay an Indian to teach the narrator how to pronounce the ethnic names properly. If one is a professional narrator one should make sure he or she gets the local pronunciation right. I know it can be difficult but engage a suitable instructor. I could not help laughing at the appalling pronunciation of the names and ethnic words which sadly let down the story telling.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Taron
- 13-02-24
It’s an honest end to end tale of Koh-I-Noor
Its a good listen, full of facts and a brief history lesson. Acts as a good follow up read (or listen) to ‘The Anarchy ‘.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John Smith
- 26-10-17
excellent book, pronunciations a bit iffy
this book is really excellent and works well as an audiobook.
Leighton Pugh reads it well but his pronunciation of hindi / urdu / punjabi words & names etc isn't fantastic.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- arup roy
- 09-10-22
Good but could have been better
There was too much focus on Ranjit Singh. I was expecting a more balanced story that seamlessly integrates the Kohinoor's journey right from the time it was mined till date. it changed many hands, but authors just very very briefly touch upon the owners prior to Ranjit Singh.
Also I could not see the establish either a strong link or delink between the myths (Sayantika) and history.
I would expect them to discuss the plight of the miners, discuss the rich poor divide, discuss the King of Andhra who got it mined, the temple in Warangal where it was installed, the Muslim invasions when it was looted ... all that in more detail.
it is the story of Kohinoor ... not of Ranjit, Duleep and Victoria.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Avid Reader
- 21-07-17
Sparked my interest
Would you try another book written by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand or narrated by Leighton Pugh?
Maybe. Too much detail in earlier chapters where I would challenge any reader to try to keep up with the mass of foreign names and then not enough detail in second part of the book after the diamond reached uk.
Would you be willing to try another one of Leighton Pugh’s performances?
Yes but there was a huge problem with volume. All my other books are fine but the sound on iPhone and IPad was low. It was a struggle to hear and this spoiled my enjoyment of the book to a considerable degree
If this book were a film would you go see it?
No
Any additional comments?
See above re narration. It did spark my interest and I will look for other books on this diamond but I will need better sound as this one was was almost inaudible in parts
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