
THE - STORY OF MADRAS
BY - GLYN BARLOW, M.A.
HUMPHREY MILFORD - OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS - LONDON, BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, MADRAS - 1921
PREFACE
ILLUSTRATIONS
CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES
CHAPTER I - BEFORE THE BEGINNING
CHAPTER II - THE BEGINNING
CHAPTER III - FORT ST. GEORGE
CHAPTER IV - DEVELOPMENT
A vivid portrait of a city where colonial ambition and native culture have intertwined for centuries, this work invites listeners to wander through the streets, forts, and temples that shape Madras’s unique character. Drawing on official records, maps, and the author’s own sketches, it threads together stories of landmark buildings—from the imposing walls of the Black Town to the elegant halls of Government House—while offering snapshots of daily life in the bustling port. The narrative balances factual detail with a storyteller’s eye, giving a sense of the city’s evolving identity without demanding prior knowledge of Indian history.
Presented as a series of self‑contained vignettes, the book captures moments of trade, conflict, and community that have left lasting marks on the urban landscape. Listeners will discover how early European settlements, local rulers, and later educational institutions each left their imprint, turning Madras into a living museum of the past. The tone remains curious and respectful, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the heritage that still echoes through its streets today.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (185K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
Sep 14, 2008
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
Best known for a lively 1921 history of Madras, this little-documented writer brought the city’s streets, buildings, and colonial past vividly to life. His work still appeals to readers interested in Chennai’s layered history and the storytelling side of local history.
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