At midnight on 14 August 1947, Britain`s 350-year-old Indian Empire was broken into three pieces. The greatest mass migration in history began, as Muslims fled north & Hindus fled south, & Britain`s role as an imperial power came to an end. Patrick French`s vivid & surprising account of the chaotic final years of colonial rule in India has been acclaimed as the definitive book on this subject. Journeying across India, Bangladesh & Pakistan, he brings to life a cast of characters including spies, idealists, freedom fighters & politicians from Churchill to Gandhi.