Author Shrabani Basu will be visiting the Island next month to talk about her book ‘Victoria & Abdul’, the feature film to which has helped put Osborne House and the Isle of Wight on the world stage once again.
Shrabani is an Indian journalist and author who has lived in London since 1987 and has made regular appearances on Radio 4 and BBC TV, as well as at literary festivals all over the United Kingdom. She has always combined her journalism with her love of history and all her books have evolved from her observations about the shared histories of India and Britain.
It was during research for her book about the British love for curry that she visited Osborne House – as she knew that Queen Victoria adored Indian cooking. She stumbled across the story of the Queen’s scandalous relationship with an Indian servant, Abdul Karim, who became her trusted confidant. Shrabani’s relentless research led to the discovery of both his lost grave and the diaries of both Victoria and Abdul, thought to have been destroyed by a furious royal household.
The true story – which Shrabani revealed in her book of 2010 – was adapted by director Stephen Frears into the recent film Victoria & Abdul, set at Osborne, with an all-star cast.
Shrabani will talk about the secrets she discovered both at Osborne House and in her travels to India and Pakistan, and how the book was transformed into the Oscar-nominated film starring Dame Judi Dench. She will also discuss her other fascinating books, including Spy Princess, the story of Noor Inayat Khan, an Indian Princess who became a heroic British secret agent during
World War II, but whose life tragically ended in Dachau concentration camp.
During a full afternoon tea after the talk, kindly provided by the Ryde Lions, Shrabani will be available to sign books, with the support of Waterstones Newport.
Tickets are £10 each and must be booked in advance. Full afternoon tea afterwards is included in the ticket price.
The talk will be at Bembridge Village Hall on Sunday 8th April. Doors will open at 14:30. The talk will start at 15:00.
For tickets email Judith on [email protected] or call 01983 875738. For more details visit www.ramshacklecinema.co.uk.
