Description

City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by acclaimed historian and travel writer William Dalrymple is a rich travelogue and historical memoir detailing the author’s year living in Delhi, India.

The title references local Islamic folklore and Sufi traditions, which hold that invisible spirits (djinns) protect the city, ensuring it continuously rises from its ashes after every destruction throughout history.

Key themes and elements of the book include:

• Peeling Back History: Dalrymple traces Delhi’s history backward through time—from the violent memory of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 1947 Partition of India to the British Raj, the grand Mughal Empire, and the ancient ruins of Indraprastha.

• Vivid Characters & Subcultures: The book introduces a colorful array of real-life characters, including traditional Sufi mystics, descendants of the Mughal royal family living in poverty, calligraphers, the hijra (transgender/eunuch) community, and British expats clinging to Raj-era nostalgia.

• Coexistence of Eras: It highlights how ancient traditions, centuries-old ruins, and modern urban chaos coexist side-by-side in modern Delhi.