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Sophia
- Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary
- Narrated by: Tania Rodrigues
- Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
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Sophia
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Summary
**By the presenter of the hit podcast EMPIRE**
'Sophia is the sort of remarkable, almost unbelievable untold true story that every writer dreams of chancing upon. A wonderful debut, written with real spirit and gusto. Anita Anand has produced a winner' William Dalrymple
'A fascinating and elegantly written life of one of the unknown giants of women's suffrage' Katie Hickman, author of Daughters of Britannia
The enthralling story of an extraordinary woman and her part in the defining moments of recent British Indian history
Winner of the Eastern Eye Alchemy Festival Award for Literature
In 1876 Sophia Duleep Singh was born into royalty. Her father, Maharajah Duleep Singh, was heir to the Kingdom of the Sikhs, a realm that stretched from the lush Kashmir Valley to the craggy foothills of the Khyber Pass and included the mighty cities of Lahore and Peshawar. It was a territory irresistible to the British, who plundered everything, including the fabled Koh-I-Noor diamond.
Exiled to England, the dispossessed Maharajah transformed his estate at Elveden in Suffolk into a Moghul palace, its grounds stocked with leopards, monkeys and exotic birds. Sophia, god-daughter of Queen Victoria, was raised a genteel aristocratic Englishwoman: presented at court, afforded grace-and-favour lodgings at Hampton Court Palace and photographed wearing the latest fashions for the society pages. But when, in secret defiance of the British government, she travelled to India, she returned a revolutionary.
Sophia transcended her heritage to devote herself to battling injustice and inequality,a far cry from the life to which she was born. Her causes were the struggle for Indian independence, the fate of the Lascars, the welfare of Indian soldiers in the First World War – and, above all, the fight for female suffrage. She was bold and fearless, attacking politicians, putting herself in the front line and swapping her silks for a nurse's uniform to tend wounded soldiers evacuated from the battlefields. Meticulously researched and passionately written, this enthralling story of the rise of women and the fall of empire introduces an extraordinary individual and her part in the defining moments of recent British and Indian history.
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What listeners say about Sophia
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-08-24
The main character Sophia is so likeable
Loved this story. It feels like a novel but it is a true story that you don’t want to end. Full of fascinating history. Beautifully read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms J Smith
- 13-01-23
Heartbreaking
It was heartbreaking at times and sometimes shocking, but very well written and narrated. I enjoyed listening to Princess Sophia's story. It made me realised just how damaging British colonialism was.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- adam
- 25-06-23
Really enjoyed
I really enjoy and I learnt so much, I would highly recommend, she was such an inspirational woman.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss M E Roy
- 26-06-23
Wonderful
A wonderful account of an astonishing woman whose story is so rarely shared. The history of the Punjab was a fascinating treat
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-06-23
What an incredible story!
An important part of history that has not been told. A well researched and beautifully told fascinating story that covered many aspects. It should be a school text book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pegsy
- 29-04-23
Great story
I chose this book as it was recommended on a tv book club show. It sounded interesting so I got it. It also mentions a local to me heroine Emily Hobhouse and her story is an interesting one too. They are building a museum to her about 4miles away from me, where her father was a vicar. St Eve near Liskeard in Cornwall. Very interesting book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SamR
- 25-01-23
Fascinating recounting
Of an incredible time in history. Really well constructed to weave the story of Sophia into the overall history of the Punjab. Highly recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- heather smith
- 29-05-23
Enjoyable listen
I had not heard of this lady before I listened to this book. Fascinating story.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Sue P
- 27-02-23
Didn’t enjoy
I didn’t think the story was told in an interesting way. For that reason I would not recommend
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