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The Raj Quartet: The Jewel in the Crown, The Day of the Scorpion, The Towers of Silence & A Division of the Spoils
The Raj Quartet: The Jewel in the Crown, The Day of the Scorpion, The Towers of Silence & A Division of the Spoils
Apr 21, 2025 3:01 AM

Author:Paul Scott,Anna Maxwell Martin,Prasanna Puwanarajah,Geraldine James,Mark Bazeley,Benedict Cumberbatch,Kulvinder Ghir,Nina Wadia,Full Cast

The Raj Quartet: The Jewel in the Crown, The Day of the Scorpion, The Towers of Silence & A Division of the Spoils

An epic full-cast dramatisation of Paul Scott’s classic series of novels charting the last days ofthe British Raj.

Spanning the years from 1942 to 1947, this landmark saga explores the relationships between an array of soldiers and civilians stationedin India, as the sun sets on British colonial rule.

As The Jewel in the Crown opens, World War II is at its height and Gandhi is calling for the British to leave. When Daphne Manners arrives in Mayapore, she meets two men who will change her life: Hari Kumar and Ronald Merrick. She begins to fall for Hari, but Ronald Merrick - the local police superintendent – becomes infatuated with her and seethes with hatred for Hari.

The Day of the Scorpion finds Merrick worming his way into the Layton family, and his treatment of Hari Kumar is revealed. In The Towers of Silence, it is summer 1945, and as the war ends Mabel Layton’s companion Barbie Batchelor is forced to leave her home in Pankot. In A Division of the Spoils, Sergeant Guy Perron arrives to witness India’s independence, while the Laytons plan for their future – but the division of the country will spark tragic consequences for many.

The extensive, star-studded cast includes Anna Maxwell Martin (Bleak House, Motherland), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Geraldine James (who also starred in the film of The Jewel in the Crown), Mark Bazeley (Broadchurch), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), Kulvinder Ghir (Goodness Gracious Me) and Nina Wadia (Eastenders).

Dramtised by John Harvey (The Jewel in the Crown, The Day of the Scorpion, The Towers of Silence) and Shelley Silas (A Division of the Spoils).

Produced and directed by Sally Avens (The Jewel in the Crown, A Division of the Spoils) and Jeremy Mortimer (The Day of theScorpion, The Towers of Silence).

Music by Raiomond Mirza.

Reviews

These are relaxed, intimate pictures, many showing Bowie off-stage, Bowie himself, even.

—— The Evening Standard

A stunning collection of over 300 personal pictures, with many published for the first time. Visually, it is a handsome book that is beautifully produced, with first-rate graphics and splendid reproduction . . . Ricochet is a remarkable photo essay about an artist at his inflection point, capturing Bowie's story as well as that of the culture surrounding him.

—— All About Jazz magazine

His charming memoir details the ways in which records by his heroes . . . have formed the soundtrack to his life.

—— MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Books of the Year'

This memoir will give you that warm glow of finding a friend who shares your passions . . . In this loving slice of social history, he beautifully mixes that passion with the story of a young man growing up and succeeding in post-war Britain.

—— DAILY EXPRESS

In prose and in person, Johnson has always had an everyman likeability . . . his take on the "good old days" is sparely unsentimental . . . very readable.

—— Stuart Maconie , NEW STATESMAN

The funniest man in, well, pretty much all of the known universe

—— Los Angeles Times

A consistent intelligence underpins Izzard's whimsy

—— Chortle

The perfect present for music mums and dads

—— Daily Mirror

Funny, enlightening, gossipy’

—— The Herald

Sparks with admiration and grievances, lust and envy

—— Sunday Telegraph

Engrossing

—— Mail on Sunday

There have been many books about David Bowie ... but Dylan Jones's is among the best

—— Observer

The definitive account of the great man’s life, in the words of those who knew him best … lively, funny and warm – and the story, even the well-known bits, still staggers and amazes. It’s a brilliant story, and it is tremendously well-told here

—— Esquire

A magisterial compilation of startling insights

—— The Oldie

One of the most colourful and intimate portraits yet painted of Bowie

—— Vogue

A vivid catalogue of anecdote, opinion, gossip and memoir

—— Telegraph Magazine

There is literally no better way to spend your time than by reading about the late, great, beautiful and brilliant David Bowie, brought to you by fellow superfan and GQ editor Dylan Jones

—— Tatler

This oral history is by far the best … It’s gossipy, fascinating stuff

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The perfect accompaniment to roaring fires and languid winter evenings, this book
guarantees to see any man through the festive period

—— Independent

A must-have for Bowie fans

—— Daily Mirror

Revelatory and surprising – perfect for the Ziggy completist

—— New York Magazine

Beguiling … the fabulosity of Bowie’s life and times lends itself extraordinarily well
to the oral history form

—— San Francisco Chronicle

An affectionate, sometimes surprising, always fascinating picture of a Star Man in the real world

—— STELLA magazine

Of all the volumes to appear since Bowie’s death last year, this is perhaps the most useful

—— i paper

A treat for enthusiasts […] it bulges with essential and telling Spinal Tappish gossip

—— Guardian

An intimate, detailed and gossip-spangled survey of the life of the great enigma

—— Strong Words magazine

There are sixty-two and a half million books written about David Bowie; this is the one that has been unanimously praised. Indeed, David Bowie: A life might be the only one that you really need.

—— Loud and Quiet Magazine

You can go to any page and read something really interesting. It’s the only book about another artist that I’ve really enjoyed.

—— Chris Difford , Daily Express
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