Ranging from the fall of Singapore in 1942 to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, this book provides a vivid behind-the-scenes look at Britain’s decision to divest itself from the crown jewel of its empire. The author, a leading authority on Indian history, paints memorable portraits of all the key participants including Gandhi, Churchill, Attlee, Nehru, and Jinnah, with a special focus on the British viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten.