Two Under The Indian Sun — Jon And Rumer Godden

Description

Two Under the Indian Sun by Jon and Rumer Godden is a beautifully written, nostalgic memoir that transports readers to the sisters’ shared childhood in East Bengal during the early 20th century. More a vivid evocation of a vanished world than a strict autobiography, this lyrical and quietly humorous book captures the innocence, adventure, and strangeness of life in colonial India through the eyes of two young English girls.

Set in the riverside town of Narayanganj, now in modern-day Bangladesh, the book recounts seven formative years filled with heat-drenched days, monsoons, tiger hunts, and the complexities of growing up between cultures. What makes Two Under the Indian Sun truly remarkable is the seamless blending of the sisters’ voices — so closely aligned that only occasional naming hints at which Godden is speaking. Their affectionate, wry portraits of family, servants, and local life are rich with sensory detail and tender observation.

An ideal read for lovers of memoir, travel writing, and stories of British India, Two Under the Indian Sun remains a poignant and captivating glimpse into a world long gone.