When British rule in India was at its height, the ships arriving at the ports of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay brought with them countless eligible young women. These were the girls of the 'Fishing Fleet' who travelled to India in the hope of finding a husband. A glittering round of parties, dances, picnics, tiger shoots and romances followed. But for those who were successful in their quest, life often changed dramatically: whisked off to a remote outposr, married life proved a far cry from the social whirl of their first arrival. Anne de Courcy weaves together the extraordinary stories of these intrepid young women in a dazzling picture of a forgotten era.
The women who married into the Raj were true adventurers. De Courcy's book restores their proper reputation: as brave, sometimes batty, irredeemably British heroines.

I found this book well researched and absolutely fascinating. However I'm very thankful I didn't have to be a member of said fleet as I swear I would never have survived the crossing let alone the horrors they had to cope with once they were in India. How they found the energy for all that tennis, dancing and partying in that heat absolutely amazes me.

Taking to today's mini meet at Mrs Bridges café.

Thank you for this Wishlist Tag. I'm on page 32 already!

What a fascinating book. I couldn't put it down! Normally non fiction books are a real chore for me but this one kept me absorbed for the last few days and I could have even managed more of the same.

Added to Flutterbies9's Random BookBox.

Taken from Flutterbies9's Random Bookbox. I'm not a reader of memoirs, biographies etc but this has piqued my interest - that's the beauty of random bookboxes eh? :o)

Handed to Nu-knees at our meet up at the Brigantes in York - lovely to see you! x

Thank you for this, plum-crazy. It's much appreciated! As you know, I'm always happy to add books to my nonfiction To Be Read collection, which is sadly depleted at the moment, and this looks to be right up my street!
Yes, it was lovely to see you again - and to meet your husband. Any excuse for a trip to my favourite city!

Fascinating and easy to read but I didn't always find it easy reading, at times my left-wing hackles were well and truly raised. The level of opulence displayed is obscene, the formality, protocol and rigid hierarchy depicted are absurd, and the racialism portrayed is horrendous. On the other hand, I found the heat, danger, disease, lack of basic amenities, loneliness and such like, equally unappealling. What a ghastly way to live! But it's interesting to read about!
Thanks again, plum :-)

This is one of three books I left on the Brigantes bookshelves this evening, passing through on our way to a family meal at the nearby Thai restaurant :-)

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