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Broken Threads: My Family From Empire to Independence
£9.60£10.40 (-8%)
A SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WESTMINSTER BOOK AWARDS
A TABLET BOOK OF THE YEAR
‘One of the best memoirs I’ve read in years’ SATHNAM SANGHERA
‘Beautifully written, emotional and deeply personal, yet universal … One can’t help but be moved by this story of upheaval and transformation’ SADIQ KHAN
An extraordinary family memoir from acclaimed newsreader and journalist, Mishal Husain, uncovering the story of her grandparents’ lives amidst empire, political upheaval and partition.
‘I witnessed the dwindling glow of the British Empire. I saw small men entrusted with great jobs, playing with the destiny of millions’
The lives of Mishal Husain’s grandparents changed forever in 1947, as the new nation states of India and Pakistan were born. For years she had a partial story, a patchwork of memories and anecdotes: hurried departures, lucky escapes from violence and homes never seen again.
Decades later, the fragment of an old sari sent Mishal on a journey through time, using letters, diaries, memoirs and audio tapes to trace four lives shaped by the Raj, a world war, independence and partition.
Mumtaz rejects the marriage arranged for him as he forges a life with Mary, a devout Catholic from an Anglo-Indian family, while Tahirah and Shahid watch the politics of pre-partition Delhi unfold at close quarters. As freedom comes, bonds fray and communities are divided, leaving two couples to forge new identities, while never forgetting the shared heritage of the past.
‘Husain has written an arresting family memoir … her explanation of partition is more level-headed than that of many professional historians’ THE TIMES
‘A spectacular achievement. It is an incisive and carefully researched historical account, and as moving and true a personal narrative’ GUARDIAN
'[Husain] has managed to make such a complex story so accessible’ OBSERVER
‘I was so moved by this stirring and deeply moving account that is at once a love story as well as a chronicle of one of the most cataclysmic events in South Asia’ BARKHA DUTT
‘Like silks in the precious fragment of the heirloom sari of its title, Broken Threads is woven from rich sources. It is a beautiful book, informed and informative, cool and factual, poetic and elegiac’ FINANCIAL TIMES
‘A deeply engrossing book … I was completely gripped by it’ INDIA KNIGHT
Mishal Husain’s book ‘Broken Threads’ was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-06-10.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Fourth Estate (8 May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 320 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0008531722 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0008531720 |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 3 x 19.8 cm |
by Mo
Bought 3 copies, 2 presents and one for me. Absolutely wonderfully written but what can you expect from the very bright and talented Mishal. Loved this book.
by Dr. J. M. Hoskyns
I loved the way this book revealed the history of the Indian subcontinent from WW1 to the 2000’s through the lives of Mishal Hussain’s parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Using this device was a great way to help one understand the tensions and decisions that were made at local, national and international levels. Because of the positions some of her ancestors held and the diaries they left, as well as exceedingly careful research, the roles of government ministers and army chiefs are revealed, which is fascinating. I listened to some sections on Audible and Mishal Hussain’s voice is mesmerising. A great read.
by Marlies Weston
There is nothing to dislike and everything to like.
Written with immaculate simplicity and absorbing clarity, Mishal has traced people of her family across four generations and characterised people and events with absorbing details that will excite your fascination. She has touched upon the very sensitive matter of the Partition of India and Pakistan with balanced understanding.
by F Gilmour
This is the sort of history that should be taught in schools, helping young minds understand the importance of tolerance. Mishal tells her family stories with love and skill. Finishing the book left me with greater knowledge but also great sadness for what might have been…
by Omar Khan
Those who want to know what exactly happened during partition must read this book
by S. Anwar
This was a gift to our daughter in law . She likes the book . Sorry that’s all I can say .
by Sam S.
I very much enjoyed this book by Misal Hussain. Having lived in Pakistan it was interesting to learn about its history through the lens of a family as they were affected by WWII and Partition. Because of the two countries being enemies over the last decades, one forgets how the citizens of both India and Pakistan had deep roots in both countries. Maybe she will write about what happened to her family later? I hope so.
by Yatin arora
Very well written. Traces 4 generations in the backdrop of historical change. Empathetic and balanced and perceptive.
by Polo121
I have read substantially around the history of Partition and at times really struggled to gain clarity and understanding, of some of the key elements of this tragic episode in South Asia’s past.
I bought this book thinking it would be a somewhat lite read, a cameo to what was going on in the region, before, during, and after Partition. Of the many books I hold in my collection on this topic, this has been the definitive of all.
Broken Threads has brought clarity to understanding some of the key activities and events of this most turbulent time in the region. Furthermore it has brought me to a place where I can finally anchor my opinions more rationally than before.
The work is exceptionally referenced which is a huge credit to the author. It provides the reader the option to research further, which I am already pursuing some of these titles.
I have always been interested in the process of the creation of the two state boundary, overseen by Radcliffe. This has always felt a theme often shrouded in secrecy and intrigue. It is of great significance Radcliffe never published his autobiography ( I am still seeking any biography of Radcliffe, but increasingly feel none exist) however, reference to Beaumont the assistant to Radcliffe, goes some way to providing clarity of events at this time.
I also draw a great deal of clarity from the reference of John Osman’s letter to the Spectator publication. Again this is both revelatory, whilst bringing clarity to my opinions and views.
The nuances that illustrate everyday living at the time make this book so special. I am still in awe of the tail where tigers often passed through the carriages of the toy train at Chindwara. Can you really imagine this?
This will remain probably the most influential book in my collection. Not only does it bring many remarkable stories from a different world, but brings a succinct understanding of how both India and Pakistan sit with each other in the 21st century. Moreover this book has given me clarity and new direction to pursue my passion of Partition history.
I thank Mishal Hussain for producing such a wonderful book.
by Donald Coleman
The sheer joy in Mishal Husain’s storytelling is completely immersive. A beautiful story about love, loss, family, friendship, loyalty, politics and history. I’ve loved spending time following the lives of the central characters in extraordinary times and places and learning about an important chapter in history that has shaped the lives of so many in today’s British Asian society. I need a sequel!
by Amazon Customer
It became a family saga and less of a record of time when the nation was carved up .Some of the quotations on the blurb was more exciting than the story.Maybe I will read it again to see whether I missed out on some important details.
by Mo
Beautiful storytelling in this book detailing a fascinating family stories. A vital part of history told through Mishal Hussain’s family history. Emotional, moving and factually fascinating. Partition is one of the historical stories that is still so untold. This book gives people a memorable and fascinating way of understanding what happened.