Sophia by Anita Anand: Book Review

Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary by Anita Anand is a biography of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. The book traces the fall of Punjab’s royal family, Duleep Singh’s life in exile, and Sophia’s journey from a sheltered princess to a committed suffragette. This review looks at how Anita Anand brings together empire, family legacy, women’s rights, and a forgotten figure from history.

Book: Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary
Author: Anita Anand
Form: Biography / history / non-fiction
Subject: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh and her journey from royal exile to suffragette activism
Main themes: Punjab, Maharaja Duleep Singh, Queen Victoria, British Empire, women’s suffrage, exile, royal legacy, and Indian history
Best for: Readers interested in biographies, women’s history, Punjab history, colonial history, suffragettes, and forgotten historical figures

Why I Picked - Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary

I was listening to Empire, the podcast hosted by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple on the British Empire in India, when I first came across Princess Sophia Duleep Singh. Her story immediately intrigued me. I realised how little I knew about her, despite her connection to Punjab’s royal history and the suffragette movement.

The curiosity made me want to read more about her, and eventually led me to pick up this book.

About Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary

Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary is a biography of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the youngest daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh of Punjab.

Following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the once powerful Punjab Empire began to fracture as it became mired in internal rivalries among the queens and the Maharaja’s progeny. These divisions left Punjab vulnerable and weak, making it easy prey for the ever-expanding British Raj.

The British eventually annexed Punjab, and the only heir to the Punjab throne, the young Prince Duleep Singh, was sent to England. He spent most of his life there, setting the stage for the remarkable journey of his daughter, Princess Sophia.

Punjab, Maharaja Duleep Singh, and Exile

The book gives readers a glimpse of the Punjab Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, one of the most successful Sikh rulers, who expanded and consolidated his empire from the Afghan border to Kashmir.

It chronologically documents the historical events and circumstances under which the young Prince Duleep Singh, heir to the kingdom of Punjab, was sent to England. There are some interesting anecdotes about the young prince and Queen Victoria, who had developed a liking for the young and handsome Duleep Singh.

Anita Anand takes us through the growing years of Duleep Singh, his extravagant hobbies, his friend circles, and his penchant for gambling, which would later alter the course of his life and that of his family.

She introduces the family of the Maharaja with such vivid detail that readers can almost picture each character and location, as if watching a movie or documentary. After setting up this context, the author moves on to the main protagonist of the book — Princess Sophia.

Princess Sophia and the World of Empire

Sophia was the sixth of seven children of Duleep Singh and Bamba. She had a wonderful childhood and shared a special bond with her younger brother Edward. Queen Victoria was godmother to Sophia and one of her brothers. Sophia was loved and adored by the Queen, and her teens and youth were filled with elite social gatherings and parties.

She was also a favourite of the press — almost like the paparazzi of that time — and frequently featured in newspapers and magazines.

The author has done remarkable research and crafted a compelling and beautifully written biography of a long-forgotten princess. With each page, my interest and curiosity increased to know what would happen next.

There are so many historical figures about whom we know very little, and I knew almost nothing about Princess Sophia. I am therefore glad that I picked this book up.

Sophia as a Suffragette and Public Figure

Through Sophia’s life, the book takes readers on a journey that spans continents and causes — from her visit to India with her sisters and her meeting with the leaders of the freedom movement, to her years as a passionate advocate of women’s right to vote, a cause she supported wholeheartedly.

Sophia’s adventures and daring as a suffragette are particularly compelling, showing her grit, courage, and determination. She actively participated in protests and deliberately defied government tax orders to invite a jail term. But being the Queen’s goddaughter, she was never jailed — a fact that emerges from official documents and letters shared among British officials.

The book also sheds light on her contributions during the First World War, when she helped raise funds for wounded soldiers and worked as a nurse caring for them.

Writing Style

Anita Anand has done a great job in compiling the biography of Princess Sophia. The book is detailed, vivid, and beautifully written. By blending meticulous research with storytelling, Anand brings a forgotten princess to life, making her story both inspiring and unforgettable.

What I liked most is the way the author builds the world around Sophia before fully bringing her into focus. We understand the Punjab Empire, Maharaja Duleep Singh’s exile, Queen Victoria’s court, and elite British society before we see Sophia’s own transformation.

The writing makes the reader feel involved in the story. With each page, my interest and curiosity increased, and I wanted to know what would happen next.

Who Should Read Sophia

If you enjoy reading history, you will love this book. It is especially useful for readers interested in Punjab history, colonial India, Maharaja Duleep Singh, Queen Victoria, women’s suffrage, and forgotten figures from history.

Readers who enjoy biographies that combine personal lives with larger historical events will also find this book rewarding. Sophia’s story is not only about one princess; it is also about empire, exile, identity, women’s rights, and the slow disappearance of a once powerful legacy.

Our Verdict

Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary is a compelling and beautifully written biography of a long-forgotten princess. Anita Anand brings together history, family legacy, empire, and women’s rights to tell the remarkable story of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh.

The book left me with mixed feelings: great admiration for Sophia’s remarkable life, and a sense of sorrow for the tragic end of a once powerful legacy.

It breaks my heart to know that the heir of the mighty kingdom of Punjab, once ruled by the invincible Maharaja Ranjit Singh, died in Paris, France — far away from his birthplace in Punjab. It is equally sad to know that after the death of Maharaja Duleep Singh’s children, no direct heir to the kingdom of Punjab was left.

For anyone interested in history, biographies, women’s movements, and the forgotten lives of remarkable people, this book is worth reading.

About the Author

Anita Anand is an award-winning radio and television journalist. She currently presents Any Answers, PM and the Reith Lectures on BBC Radio 4. She is the author of : Sophia, Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary, and The Patient Assassin/Udham Singh, for which she won the Penn Hessell Tiltman Award for History Book of the Year, and she co-authored Kohinoor, the story of the World’s Most Infamous Diamond.