William Dalrymple, The Golden Road: Book Talk and Signing

We are excited to welcome William Dalrymple, the internationally bestselling author, for an exclusive book-signing and talk on his groundbreaking new work, . This event will take place on the day of the book’s US release.

For over a millennium, India was a beacon of intellectual, artistic, and scientific achievement, sharing its ideas and innovations across continents. In The Golden Road, William Dalrymple takes us on a captivating journey through time, from India’s pioneering contributions to mathematics to its role in shaping religions, astronomy, trade, and art throughout Asia and Europe. With a masterful blend of history and travelogue, Dalrymple shifts our understanding of ancient India's vast global influence.

In conversation with curator Debra Diamond, the author will discuss the book's key themes, including the importance of India’s cultural and technological exchanges, its influence on the rise of Buddhism in East Asia, and how Indian trade routes helped sustain the Roman Empire. He’ll also discuss his extensive travels—from cave monasteries in India to the ruins of Angkor Wat to the Egyptian coast and beyond.

After the talk, participate in a facilitated Q&A session and have your copy signed by the author. Copies of The Golden Road will be available for purchase.

About the Author:

William Dalrymple is the author of nine books about India and the Islamic world. The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire, a finalist for the Cundill History Prize, was selected as one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2019. Dalrymple’s Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839–42 won the PEN/Hemingway Award and was shortlisted for the PEN Hessell-Tiltman and Duff Cooper Prizes. He writes regularly for The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, and The Guardian, and is one of the founders and a codirector of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

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