Lucknow

Lucknow: Fire of Grace is the first full-length historical and contemporary narrative spanning a period of 250 years of the Indian subcontinents most fascinating city-culture. In 1722 as the Mughal empire embarked on the descent to its collapse a wazirdari arose in Awadh. Led by Mughal officers and Persian adventurers it marked a break in world culture. Combining power aristocracy freedom science and subterfuge Awadh became Indias first modern and secular kingdom. It was the last kingdom to be annexed in 1856andthe city of Lucknow fought valiantly against the British the following year a keystone in the Revolt of 1857. The city never recovered from its defeat nor would it be revived after Indias independence in 1947. December 6 1992 seemed to many the final nail in the coffin of a once magnificent culture. Very little of Awadhs past splendour remains today but Lucknow has struggled on not yet entirely bereft of the things that made it one of the greatest cities in Indian history.