Regarded as Regarded as 'One of the most consistently enjoyable writers on India' (William Dalrymple), Charles Allen is a historian, broadcaster and author of 24 books on the Indian subcontinent.

He has a recorded family association with India that goes back to 1857 and has written bestsellers including his first work, 'Plain Tales from the Raj' (1975), and 'Kipling Sahib: India and the Making of Rudyard Kipling' (2007). He recently featured in the BBC documentary film 'Kipling's Indian Adventure', which reassessed Kipling's life and adventures in Lahore and their impact on his literature. His most recently published book is 'The Prisoner of Kathmandu: Brian Hodgson in Nepal 1820-43' (2015).