A charming account of life before British independence and the time of the Indian maharajahs. Gayatri Devi was the third wife of the Maharajah of Jaipur, the daughter of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, and the granddaughter of the Maharajah of Baroda. In this book she recounts life growing up in India and the European continent, as well as some of the rituals and ceremonies that governed her life in India. She talks about her political life, as well as entertaining such personalities as Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as Jackie Kennedy.

It's a very good read, and recommended for anyone wanting to glimpse life in a time gone by. ( )

A richly detailed autobiography by a woman who grew up as a princess in eastern India in the early 20th century and was the wife of a Maharaja when India became independent.

Gayatri Devi is a fascinating woman, intelligent and knowlegeable about the world around her. Born in 1919 and writing about 1970, she was part of major changes in India, including the coming of independence, the separation of Pakistan, and the dismantlement of the Indian kingdoms where her life had been centered. She tells the story of her life with clarity and charm helping readers appreciate the places in India and the people about whom she cared most deeply.
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