A Strange Kind of Paradise: India Through Foreign Eyes by Sam Miller

“A Strange Kind of Paradise: India Through Foreign Eyes” is a book by Sam Miller that explores India’s complex history and culture through the lens of foreign writers and travelers who have visited the country over the centuries.

The book is divided into ten chapters, each of which covers a different theme or aspect of India, such as religion, politics, and literature. Within each chapter, Miller weaves together a wide range of perspectives and voices from foreign visitors to India, including travelers, missionaries, diplomats, scholars, and writers.

Through these diverse perspectives, Miller provides a nuanced and multifaceted portrait of India, showing how it has been seen and interpreted by outsiders over the centuries. He also explores the ways in which these outsider perspectives have influenced and shaped India’s own self-image and national identity.

Throughout the book, Miller examines India’s relationship with the West, and the ways in which India has both resisted and embraced Western influence over the centuries. He also highlights the tensions and contradictions within India itself, such as the ongoing struggle between tradition and modernity, and the complex relationships between India’s various religious and ethnic communities.

Overall, “A Strange Kind of Paradise” offers a fascinating and insightful look at India’s complex history and culture through the eyes of outsiders. By highlighting the many different perspectives and voices that have contributed to our understanding of India over the centuries, Miller provides a rich and nuanced portrait of this endlessly fascinating country.