Sophia cover art

Sophia

Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary

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Sophia

By: Anita Anand
Narrated by: Tania Rodrigues
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents Sophia by Anita Anand, read by Tania Rodrigues.

**By the presenter of the hit podcast EMPIRE**

'Sophia is the sort of remarkable, almost unbelievable untold true story that every writer dreams of chancing upon. A wonderful debut, written with real spirit and gusto. Anita Anand has produced a winner' William Dalrymple

'A fascinating and elegantly written life of one of the unknown giants of women's suffrage' Katie Hickman, author of Daughters of Britannia

The enthralling story of an extraordinary woman and her part in the defining moments of recent British Indian history

Winner of the Eastern Eye Alchemy Festival Award for Literature

In 1876 Sophia Duleep Singh was born into royalty. Her father, Maharajah Duleep Singh, was heir to the Kingdom of the Sikhs, a realm that stretched from the lush Kashmir Valley to the craggy foothills of the Khyber Pass and included the mighty cities of Lahore and Peshawar. It was a territory irresistible to the British, who plundered everything, including the fabled Koh-I-Noor diamond.

Exiled to England, the dispossessed Maharajah transformed his estate at Elveden in Suffolk into a Moghul palace, its grounds stocked with leopards, monkeys and exotic birds. Sophia, god-daughter of Queen Victoria, was raised a genteel aristocratic Englishwoman: presented at court, afforded grace-and-favour lodgings at Hampton Court Palace and photographed wearing the latest fashions for the society pages. But when, in secret defiance of the British government, she travelled to India, she returned a revolutionary.

Sophia transcended her heritage to devote herself to battling injustice and inequality,a far cry from the life to which she was born. Her causes were the struggle for Indian independence, the fate of the Lascars, the welfare of Indian soldiers in the First World War – and, above all, the fight for female suffrage. She was bold and fearless, attacking politicians, putting herself in the front line and swapping her silks for a nurse's uniform to tend wounded soldiers evacuated from the battlefields. Meticulously researched and passionately written, this enthralling story of the rise of women and the fall of empire introduces an extraordinary individual and her part in the defining moments of recent British and Indian history.©2022 Anita Anand (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Activists Asia Europe Great Britain India Politics & Activism South Asia Women Royalty Solider

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All stars
Most relevant  
Loved this story. It feels like a novel but it is a true story that you don’t want to end. Full of fascinating history. Beautifully read.

The main character Sophia is so likeable

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It was heartbreaking at times and sometimes shocking, but very well written and narrated. I enjoyed listening to Princess Sophia's story. It made me realised just how damaging British colonialism was.




Heartbreaking

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I really enjoy and I learnt so much, I would highly recommend, she was such an inspirational woman.

Really enjoyed

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A wonderful account of an astonishing woman whose story is so rarely shared. The history of the Punjab was a fascinating treat

Wonderful

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An important part of history that has not been told. A well researched and beautifully told fascinating story that covered many aspects. It should be a school text book.

What an incredible story!

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Of an incredible time in history. Really well constructed to weave the story of Sophia into the overall history of the Punjab. Highly recommend.

Fascinating recounting

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I had not heard of this lady before I listened to this book. Fascinating story.

Enjoyable listen

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I chose this book as it was recommended on a tv book club show. It sounded interesting so I got it. It also mentions a local to me heroine Emily Hobhouse and her story is an interesting one too. They are building a museum to her about 4miles away from me, where her father was a vicar. St Eve near Liskeard in Cornwall. Very interesting book.

Great story

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I bought this book after listening to the podcast Empire . I have totally binged this story , and was sad when it ended . Next one by Anita is a must !!

Captivating

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I didn’t think the story was told in an interesting way. For that reason I would not recommend

Didn’t enjoy

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