The Siege of Krishnapur
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | J. G. Farrell |
| Products | Book |
The Siege of Krishnapur is a novel authored by J. G. Farrell, initially released in 1973.
Drawing inspiration from the events leading up to the 1857 uprising, notably the sieges at Cawnpore and Lucknow, the narrative centers on the fictional Indian town of Krishnapur during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It portrays the experiences of British inhabitants affiliated with the East India Company, emphasizing their challenges during a siege that reverses traditional colonial roles. The story uses the strict social hierarchy of this isolated community to inject dark humor while preserving a serious atmosphere.
The book was highly praised and earned the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1973. During his acceptance speech, Farrell took the opportunity to criticize the commercial practices of the prize’s sponsors. In 2008, it was selected as a finalist for The Best of the Booker alongside other previous winners.
Plot
Set within Krishnapur, the plot follows a British military contingent besieged for four months by native sepoy troops. Prominent characters include the District Collector, who represents Victorian ideals and notions of progress; the Magistrate, a former Chartist disenchanted by the siege; medical professionals debating cholera remedies; Fleury, an English poet turned soldier; and Lucy, a rescued "fallen woman" managing a tea salon. As cholera outbreaks, starvation, and warfare ravage the population, survivors are forced to consume dogs, horses, and beetles while battling scurvy. The British defenders’ last stand features an ironically humorous climax where chandeliers and violins become weapons during their retreat across the residency’s rooms.
The Siege of Krishnapur forms part of Farrell’s "Empire Trilogy," which examines the decline of British imperialism through three different historical contexts. The other novels are Troubles, set amid the Irish War for Independence (1919–1921), and The Singapore Grip, set shortly before Japan’s World War II invasion of Singapore.
Reviews
Walter Clemons praised it in Newsweek (21 October 1974) as "a work of wit, lively historical reconstruction and imaginative intensity." John Spurling referred to it as "a masterpiece" in the New Statesman (21 September 1973). On 2 September 1973, Julian Symons wrote in The Sunday Times that Farrell ranks "among a half-dozen British writers under forty whose work should be read by anyone inclined to think no interesting novels are being written today."