It was a scandal that rocked the highest echelons of the British Raj. In 1891, a notorious jeweller and curio dealer from Simla offered to sell the world's largest brilliant-cut diamond to the fabulously wealthy Nizam of Hyderabad. If the audacious deal succeeded it would set the merchant up for life. But the transaction went horribly wrong. The Nizam accused him of fraud, triggering a sensational trial in the Calcutta High Court that made headlines around the world...

Perhaps the most prized of all gems, diamonds have a long and fascinating history. In this engrossing, profusely illustrated volume, that history is covered in detail — from early discoveries in the Golconda mines of India (probably the site of the first diamonds ever unearthed) and digs in Brazil, to the South African diamond rush and development of major mining companies. Over 200 illustrations include step-by-step photos showing how these valuable stones are mined and the intricacies of cutting and faceting, while reproductions of museum paintings and photographs depict famous individual diamonds as well as outstanding rings, bracelets, brooches, pins, earrings, watches, tiaras, and other traditional and modern diamond pieces. Here also are stories of the most famous and infamous diamonds: the Koh-i-Noor in the Tower of London, the Hope in the Smithsonian Institution, the Regent in the Louvre, the Orloff in the Kremlin, and many other celebrated jewels. More than a dramatically told story of diamonds, this volume will also serve as a practical guide for anyone who owns a diamond or plans to buy one. It explains and illustrates different diamond cuts, the role of carats, and how to buy diamonds — for sentiment, beauty, show, flawlessness, or investment. Anyone who has ever been captivated by the matchless brilliance of these rare gems will find this book an informative, highly readable addition to their personal library.

A stiff upper lip, steely eyes and a cold heart is often how the English imperialist is pictured in popular imagination. Drawing from memoirs, commentaries and family letters, Elizabeth Hamilton brings forth an alternative portrayal of her ancestors, Sir Robert Hamilton and Sir William Barton. Their careers in India are set against the momentous events of their times to present a different side of the colonialists of a quiet people, dedicated to the tradition of upholding the law and avoiding conflict. Volume I, The Proud Empire, traces the life of Sir Robert Hamilton, from the beginning of his career under the watchful eye of his father, up until his retirement. Occupying multiple roles such as the Resident of Indore and Agent to the Governor General in the Central Provinces, he is seen interacting with various prominent Indian figures such as the Rani of Jhansi, Tantya Tope and Nana Sahib. The picture of the arrogant imperialist fades away to be replaced by that of someone keen to make a difference to the society he was working in, who encourages good governance, mends ties in the midst of escalating tensions and must recover cities occupied by insurgents, all the while shadowed by the burden of great personal losses. Volume II, The Straight Race, tracks Sir William Barton’s career in the early twentieth century. Starting in the Punjab and the North-West Frontier, he later served as Resident in the well-administered states of Mysore and Hyderabad, where he stood up to the Nizam, doing his best to set the administration on a less corrupt footing. Retirement did not deter Sir William’s close interest in Indian affairs; he returned twice on tour as an advisor to electrical companies and travelled with a Ministry of Supply mission during the Second World War. With three books and many articles for newspapers and journals on the subject, India remained an integral part of his life.

An exploration of the historic relationship between Australia and India.

Edward Gibbon’s monumental ‘History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ charts the course of Western civilisation from the height of the Roman Empire to the fall of Byzantium. Published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788, Gibbon’s magnum opus is celebrated for its ironic prose, use of primary sources and its bold open criticism of organised religion. For the first time in digital publishing, this comprehensive eBook presents Gibbon’s complete works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts appearing in digital print for the first time, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 2) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Gibbon’s life and works * Detailed introductions to the history works and other texts * ‘The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ is presented with the original footnotes and a detailed table of contents – ideal for students * Images of how the books were first printed, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Features ‘Miscellaneous Essays’, appearing here for the first time in digital print * Rare works often missed out of collections * Includes Gibbon’s letters - spend hours exploring the historian’s personal correspondence * Gibbon’s autobiography * Features a bonus biography - discover Gibbon’s literary life * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please note: there are no known translations of Gibbon’s obscure early work ‘Memoires litteraires de la Grande Bretagne’ in the public domain. When a translation becomes available, it will be added to the eBook as a free update. Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: The History THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS The Essays ESSAI SUR L’ÉTUDE DE LA LITTÉRATURE CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE SIXTH BOOK OF THE ÆNEID MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS The Letters PRIVATE LETTERS OF EDWARD GIBBON, 1753-1794 The Autobiography MEMOIRS OF MY LIFE AND WRITINGS The Biography GIBBON by James Cotter Morison Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles