Crescent and Delta: The Bangladesh Story

by David Urch

This book surveys the history of the area that is now Bangladesh from earliest times to the present, though providing more detail on events since the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The title reflects the two dominant influences that have shaped the life and culture of Bangladesh, namely the Crescent (Islam) and the Delta (the great fact of geography). While histories of Bangladesh have been produced in India, Pakistan and in Bangladesh itself, all have been characterised by highly controversial political and other agendas. This is the first comprehensive history of Bangladesh to be written by an Englishman, though one who has spent much of his life in Islamic countries.

Awareness of Bangladesh in Britain is low. In the recent BBC series commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of the British Raj, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) received scarcely a mention. Few people are aware that Bangladesh has the eighth largest population in the world. There is a large Bangladeshi population in this country, some now second or even third generation. They too often have little awareness of their ancestral homeland.

Crescent and Delta aims at more than a history of Bangladesh. By recounting what has often been a violent and tragic history, it explores wider issues such as the cultural and economic interactions between those of different faiths, and the problems of establishing stable systems of government in places that have experienced centuries of oppression and exploitation.

This book is also affiliated with first of its kind "Buckingham Bangladesh Scholarship" where all the profits are raised in perpetuity to educate a British born Bangladeshi and in the future Bangldeshi students from abroad. A worthy reason to purchase this book.

266 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2008

About the author

David Urch was born in 1931 and was educated at Eastbourne College from where he won an open exhibition in History to Worcester College Oxford where he read History and Theology.

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I have ever read. This Is altogether not surprising seeing as the author has never been to the country.

The authors knowledge/lack of knowledge about the history of South Asia is borderline offensive. It reads badly. The book plays on imperialist and orientalist stereotypes. The author seems to think their knowledge of Islam qualifies to write about people who happen to be Muslim.

This book is a waste of money and time.

[Yasmin Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't appreciate a book aimed to inform British Bangladeshis about the war heavily reliant on the account of a Pakistani general however, it's easy to read and you learn a lot pre and post colonisation

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a master story teller, he writes an objective account of South Asia.