Gandhi's Interpreter

Gandhi's Interpreter

A Life Of Horace Alexander

BY GEOFFREY CARNALL

Brief Description:
Horace Alexander was an English Quaker who negotiated relations between Indian nationalist leaders and the British Government in the years before the transfer of power. Alexander was Gandhi's trusted intermediary; at the same time, he enjoyed the confidence of British Conservative ministers and Labour representatives. He avoided publicity so successfully that his role has almost entirely escaped the attention of historians, including his efforts to prevent the outbreak of the Second World War.

Edinburgh UP 2010 320 PP. Cloth

$85.00 (out of stock but can be backordered)

Geoffrey Carnall sent a typescript of Gandhi’s Interpreter to Elise Boulding early in January 2007, and on the 29th received the following reply. ‘Thank you so much for sending me the ms of your bio of Horace Alexander. I had no idea of the extent of Quaker involvement (along with other peace groups) in India’s long struggle for complete independence, and in general the complex social and political struggles in i Europe and Asia for much of the twentieth century. The Quaker practice of listening and openness to the calls of listening diplomacy really make a difference! ‘Alexander’s work as scholar, teacher and administrator of Woodbrooke, and the courageous travel and travail of the Friends Ambulance Units become very visible from continent to continent, but these stories do not appear in American history books. This is particularly unfortunate since British imperialism is being replaced by American Imperialism. No one is learning the lessons your book is teaching. There will be many teachers in the U.S. who will welcome this much-needed volume – and not just in Quaker schools. ‘Although his relationship with Gandhi was very important in Alexander’s life, I question the adequacy of the title Gandhi’s Interpreter for the richness of the book. How about “Quaker diplomat and interpreter of Gandhi in the struggle between two worlds”. No, I don’t like that – too complicated – but think about it anyway. ‘How I look forward to promoting the book when it comes out!’ Sadly, Elise Boulding died shortly after it was eventually published in June 2010, and had been suffering from an incapacitating illness for some time before that.