The British Academy Book Prize spotlights the best books that bridge the divides between diverse history and perspectives. This year, Nandini Das’, a British-Indian author, debut work “Courting India: A Window into the Early Encounters of Britain and the Mughal Empire” emerged as the winner of the British Academy Book Prize, along with a generous cash prize of £25,000.
The non-fiction book takes the readers on a captivating journey into 17th-century India and interactions between Britain and the Mughal Empire, providing the contrasting worlds, insecure Britain and confident Mughal Empire.
It shares the experiences of Thomas Roe, James I’s first ambassador to India, where Roe spent four years at Jahangir’s court. The author skillfully resolves the complex trading relationship between the East India Company and the Mughal Empire. The author describes how, at first, they struggled to grasp each other’s cultures and diplomacy. Yet, they also figured out the best ways to work harmoniously.
With its wealth of historical insights, Courting India provides rich history during the Jacobean London and 17th Century India. In a world of turmoil, war, and so much confusion, Nandini Das reminds us of the importance of global cultural understanding.
Chair of the jury, Professor Charles Tripp, provided a compelling perspective on the book’s significance, saying, “Nandini Das has written the true origin story of Britain and India.”
Courting India was chosen from a shortlist of six books.
| Red Memory by Tania Branigan |
| The Violence of Colonial Photography by Daniel Foliard |
| Black Ghost of Empire by Kris Manjapra |
| Papyrus by Charlotte Whittle |
| Ritual by Dimitris Xygalatas |
Nandini Das earned her M.Phil and PhD at Trinity College, Cambridge
She specializes in Renaissance literature and cultural history. Her notable works include editing and writing on sixteenth and early seventeenth-century romance and prose fiction, including “Robert Greene’s Planetomachia” (2007) and “Renaissance Romance: The Transformation of English Prose Fiction, 1570-1620” (2011), among others.
She co-edited “The Cambridge History of Travel Writing” (2019) alongside Tim Youngs.
She also serves as the volume editor for the forthcoming edition of Richard Hakluyt’s “The Principal Navigations.”
She is known for her frequent appearances as a presenter on television and radio programs. Interested readers can learn more about her contributions here.
