During the filming of Paul Scott's Raj Quartet, "The Jewel in the Crown", Tim Piggott-Smith (whose portrayal of Captain Merrick has been hailed as one of the great dramatic performances of recent times) found himself increasingly captivated by all things Indian. This "affair of the heart" inspired his diary and an ever-growing collection of writings from many varied sources. These are the basis of this book. The writings, besides the diary, range from the Vedas to Kipling, Paul Scott and E.M. Forster and include Alan Ross, Francis Yeats-Brown, Hermann Hesse and Ved Mehta. The work of several contemporary Indian poets also forms an important part of this collection.