A Princess Remembers: Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur Paperback – Illustrated, 1 Mar. 1995

The earlier part of the book is written in a an enthusiastic and captivating manner, whereas the latter part is a bit more dry. In the last chapter it is explained why, it had to do with how the author felt about the different stages of her life. It may also be a measure of regret connected to the "drier" parts.Great cultural changes take place during the decades the book covers. One thing mentioned is the custom of segregating men and women, which the author has a unique and sometimes even positive viewpoint on, although she doesn't entirely agree with the custom. She also writes about her polygamous marriage and the other wives, with a viewpoint that is entirely foreign to westerners and thus interesting to read about.

This is a great book for anyone fascinated with royalty ! The details of the life of the Maharani are truly wonderful and gives you an insight into the life of royalty in pre-independence India. I definitely recommend this book and i am sure to read it again myself someday.

A Princess remembers – Gayatri DeviI recommend this memoir for its courageous woman on woman battle in India - the largest democracy on earth - with discomfiting examples of the ‘diplomatic’ tool of choice – the cut – the slight.We are riding elephants chasing tigers led by a young girl who shot her first panther aged 12.Driving a magnificent wedding gift of a black Bentley this daughter of Cooch Behar and Baroda royalty will embrace ‘purdah’ and need to command all the religious devotions of orthodox Hindu’s as third wife of the Maharajah of Jaipur. Not for her the Zenada as ‘third her highness,’ the young Gayatri emerges from the long shadow of her husband’s polo fame and her mother’s irresistible social dynamic to wrestle with Indira Gandhi over every Indian prince’s privy purse.In her 400 page autobiography; dealing with the years up to 1995 with a 6 page index, Ayesha – Gayatri Devi born May 23, 1919 provides us with a key to her accommodation first in Cooch – Behar and then at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur interrupted with a brief stay (156 nights) in prison before she tackles Indira Gandhi and arrives at her final residence at Lilypool in Jaipur. A tragedy unfolds, nearly everything will be lost in her struggle against injustice - we learn about the slights, the cuts: George V 1911 Durbar in Delhi, the Abbey pillar at the 12 May 1937 George VI coronation in London obstructing the view for two of the most beautiful women in the world, the Duke of Edinburgh’s 1970 letter of condolence, the Michael Foot 1975 support of Indira Gandhi’s lawlessness.My arc of sympathy for the author peaked with her hunting and sporting prowess, her love for the elephants and the pilkhanna, her time in Europe with the ‘Monkey Club,’ then plummeted as evidence of her youthful inexperience mounted; her early dependence on her mother’s fashion sense and her own forgetfulness towards ‘Mickey’ – how do you forget a sister in laws wedding gift? And then she appears to be just a straw politician following the international polo season instead of facing challenges at home with her constituents. The injustices of the Indira Gandhi regime brought me back on side as did her rekindled awareness of pressing social issues and her recourse to founding and promoting benevolent and educational charities in Jaipur.RATING: Prose 7, Research value 10, Humour 6, Essential Photos 9.

A brilliant memoir, especially relevant to me as my grandfather went on one of the big game shoots instigated by the Maharajah of Cooch Behar (the Princess's grandfather).

A completely fascinating insight into the lives of the Indian elite and very well written too. I just wish I had read it before visiting Jaipur. It would have brought so much more to life in all the palaces and museums I visited there.

A delightful read giving an insight into a way of life that has now passed. When I visited the palace in Jaipur, I felt I knew it already! I almost felt the ghosts of the previous occupants as we walked around.

I liked this book a lot also maharani ,she tells her story in a way that make events in a perspective understandable for an occidental mentality . Pity following maharani death immediately srung litigation

If you want to read about how some very rich Indian families lived in the first half of the 20th century read this. Lots of photographs. An easy read and enjoyable.