In a novel that is reminiscent of Kipling’s masterly fiction about the Great Game, Dawood Ali McCallum tells an electrifying story about intelligence and counter-espionage in nineteenth century India.
Viking, India
Dawood Ali McCallum could just as well have been a poet. The Lords of Alijah, his 400-page novel, is structured like a giant sonnet. The architectural perfection of his novel on the many facets of the princely state of Gwalior, is a reflection of his own experiences and therefore it comes through as spontaneous, not contrived.
Business India
Bravo! Taz transcends the stereotype and has dimension and integrity as a character. The prose is lively and unpretentious. The characters are sound, and even the minor characters are believable and engaging. Well worth a read.
Dawn, Karachi
McCallum writes well. He knows how to tell a story and he knows how to flesh out characters.
Sahara Times
McCallum has a superb eye for picking up sub-texts and metaphors of various cultures in a globalised era.
McCallum uses his knowledge to portray Addis Ababa, Accra and Gambia with a visceral intensity.
McCallum’s book is a scathing indictment of the powers of the state in all continents and the way in which ordinary poor people get caught up in sinister machinations and games.Daily News and Analysis