Historical fiction book · Curated
The Siege of Krishnapur
J. G. Farrell · historical fiction
Series: Empire Trilogy
In the summer of 1857, after sepoys rebel at Captainganj, the British residents of Krishnapur fall back on the Residency, which the Collector, Mr. Hopkins, has already started to fortify. J. G. Farrell's 1973 novel is Victorian military historical fiction of the months that follow—cholera, hunger, and a last retreat through the residency—until a relief force arrives.
Why read it: A widely searched Indian Rebellion novel—the Farrell title readers look up by name (the 1973 Booker Prize), and an 1857 siege counterpart to The Far Pavilions already on the shelf (not Troubles, not The Singapore Grip).
About this historical novel
The Siege of Krishnapur by J. G. Farrell is historical fiction set around 1857 in the Victorian / Gilded Age period with key settings including Krishnapur, Calcutta, Captainganj, the Residency. In the summer of 1857, after sepoys rebel at Captainganj, the British residents of Krishnapur fall back on the Residency, which the Collector, Mr. Hopkins, has already started to fortify. J. G. Farrell's 1973 novel is Victorian military historical fiction of the months that follow—cholera, hunger, and a last retreat through the residency—until a relief force arrives.
On HisFic we tag it under 5. Military & war and 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the siege, the East India Company, cholera, and empire. A widely searched Indian Rebellion novel—the Farrell title readers look up by name (the 1973 Booker Prize), and an 1857 siege counterpart to The Far Pavilions already on the shelf (not Troubles, not The Singapore Grip).
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Plot summary
In the summer of 1857, after sepoys rebel at Captainganj, the British residents of Krishnapur fall back on the Residency, which the Collector, Mr. Hopkins, has already started to fortify. J. G. Farrell's 1973 novel is Victorian military historical fiction of the months that follow—cholera, hunger, and a last retreat through the residency—until a relief force arrives. A widely searched Indian Rebellion novel—the Farrell title readers look up by name (the 1973 Booker Prize), and an 1857 siege counterpart to The Far Pavilions already on the shelf (not Troubles, not The Singapore Grip).
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Regions & places
Asia
Krishnapur · Calcutta · Captainganj · the Residency · India
Themes
- the Indian Rebellion of 1857
- the siege
- the East India Company
- cholera
- empire
Tags
military · award-winner · series