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Synopsis A fabulous compilation of life and times of Bengal 100 and more years ago. Over 115 histories and biographies with illustrations, make this journey into the past a very special one. This is the first representation of the most characteristic architectural and natural beauty of Bengal. Not just beautiful words, painted pictures, but actual photographs have been taken by the author himself. In the early nineteenth century this was a stupendous task of intellectual and physical labour. Thanks to this mammoth effort of A. Claude Campbell, we have available to us today an authentic, personally vouched and researched documentation of a very important era in the history of India. Every spot described was personally visited by the author. Every Indian aristocrat mentioned in this compilation was actually visited and interviewed by the author, although it has to be mentioned that historical facts mentioned and stories related are as told to the author by the personages themselves and may leave much scope for argument. Not only the well known historic buildings, archaeological remains, but coverage has been given to the less accessible parts of the country as well. Specially to the natural wonders, relics of by gone days such as the remains of Gaur, Pandua and the mysterious hill "Mandar". A number of pages are devoted to the extremely interesting town of Murshidabad which was, in 1765 enjoying the status of the political center of British India and was a luxurious court and commercial center. It lost its importance when the capital finally shifted to Calcutta. The book is of special historical interest because of the special biographical section on all the Nawabs and Maharajas of the time. The accounts are as real as any can every get. The Indian Nobility of Calcutta had left a great mark on the Bengali Cultural History. Therefore to understand the sensitive and poignant ethos of the Bengalis, this book is a "must" reading. The British did command but the embellishments came from the Indians themselves. The place the Indian Nobility commanded in the early 19th century can be seen and felt in these pages. The book has much to offer to the researchers. Facts and figures and events with time and happenings are retold with impeccable honesty and candour. Special attention is given to the State of Cooch Behar and present day Bangladesh. It is in microcosm, the window into the life and times of the grandeur of the Maharajas and the material conditions of the people. Of particular importance is the coverage given in retrospect to history. The book is of great relevance today because it acts as a bridge and assists in understanding better the evolution of modern India. This publication covers Bengal, Behar and present day Bangladesh. It was to be followed by two other volumes which were never published. This first volume has again been divided in two volumes to make it more convenient and easily readable.