Sophia

November 3, 2014
As a ward of the British government born in exile, Indian princess Sophia Duleep Singh embodied a curious mix of East and West—and an equally intriguing combination of patriotism and socially conscious rebelliousness. Journalist and BBC personality Anand writes a sympathetic biography that reads almost like a novel, illustrating how a forbidden trip to India changed the fashion-conscious party devotee into a woman seeking fulfillment in a society that relished her royal status and position as Queen Victoria’s goddaughter, but punished her for the color of her skin. While deeply involved in the early 20th-century militant suffrage movement, she also raised funds and helped nurse wounded Indians sent to England to recover during WWI. Anand successfully shows how the inner struggle between her native English culture and her Indian heritage wore on Sophia,
resulting in depression and loneliness. Emmeline Pankhurst and a young Winston Churchill make appearances during Sophia’s suffrage efforts, but it’s Gandhi’s evolution that adds depth to Sophia’s transformation, humanizing both in the process. One part glittering socialite, one part activist, and entirely unique, Sophia adds a previously unexplored facet to the tumultuous progressive era that remade the Western world.

Starred review from December 1, 2014

BBC radio and television journalist Anand tells the story of Sophia Duleep Singh (1876-1948), born in exile in England but the rightful heiress to a rich and mighty Indian empire--the Kingdom of the Sikhs. Raised as a privileged Englishwoman with Queen Victoria for a godmother, Sophia's life took an unexpected turn when she dared to travel to her ancestral home in India. While there, she found herself moved by the plight of her kinsmen who languished under British rule, and upon her return to England she realized that she could no longer be content with the dog shows and frivolous parties that formerly filled her days. Instead, Sophia embarked on a rebellious journey that would result in her championing the causes of Indian independence, women's rights, and even Indian soldiers fighting for the British crown during World War I. VERDICT Anand writes with a journalist's sense for a solid story and a historian's eye for fascinating anecdotes. Filled with rich detail and walks through little-known avenues of the past, this work is bound to enchant history lovers, those interested in women's studies, Anglophiles, and anyone who enjoys biographies.--Laura Marcus, Odenton, MD

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.