The Siege of Krishnapur

By: J. G. Farrell

Narrated by: Peter Wickham

In the Spring of 1857, with India on the brink of a violent and bloody mutiny, Krishnapur is a remote town on the vast North Indian plain. For the British there, life is orderly and genteel. Then the sepoys at the nearest military cantonment rise in revolt, and the British community retreats with shock into the Residency. They prepare to fight for their lives with what weapons they can muster.

As food and ammunition grow short, the Residency, its defences battered by shot and shell and eroded by the rains, becomes ever more vulnerable. The Siege of Krishnapur is a modern classic of narrative excitement that also digs deep to explore some fundamental questions of civilisation and life.

1973, The Booker Prize, Winner

©1996 J. G. Farrell (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group

Critic reviews

While I can't categorically state it's the best book ever, I find it hard to think of one that I prefer. One that does more as a work of fiction, or that says more about our flawed humanity . . . The Siege of Krishnapur is a superb portrayal of physical horrors and psychological fallout . . . [It] is wonderfully funny, written with devastating wit and rambunctious humanity. I can't praise it enough - and I can't push it enough (Sam Jordison)

Inspired, funny but ultimately tragic look at colonialism in India. It has an unusual exuberance (Mariella Frostrup)

one of the best British historical novels of the l

The narrator was outstanding. The book is excellent & adequately covered by reviews on the internet

Insightful

I would have never read a post-colonial novel with the word ‘siege’ in the title if it had not been recommended to me. I’m so glad I did. Fascinating content—marvelous artistry. It takes a bit to get used to the setting, the characters, the narrator, the tone, but I came to see how all these aspects relied on one another and were the only way to tell the story. And I came to love all of it. Give it a few chapters. The reader is perfectly enmeshed in the novel’s world.

Another spellbinding satire on British colonialism

I loved Farrell's Singapore Grip. This is as good on the absurdities of colonialism and brutality of armed conflict. A wonderful reading.

Over all, Excellent

I’ve read this book many times in book form. It was as expected. My only problem with it was that the narrator kept pronouncing “cantonment” as “cantoonment”.

Wonderful book, wonderfully read.

The book is a remarkable combination of story, interesting information, rich characters, wit, and perspective on the times, enormously enrich by a brilliant reader. My wife and I loved it.