The History of India went into four editions in Elphinstone’s lifetime; it was republished after his death to remain, ‘the best standard work’ for over half a century. In 1910, Alfred Lyall praised Elphinstone as still ‘the best and, most readable of Anglo-Indian historians’. Elphinstone’s History of India was read and appreciated by the intellectual class, who were broad minded and imperial enough to acknowledge that it was better than the prejudiced account of India by Mill who had never visited it. Elphinstone was then sometimes called the “Tacitus of Modern Historians”. The merit of Elphinstone’s work is obvious from the following reviews of his book : “One of the principal advantages which the author has enjoyed over Mill lies in this, that he has largely examined for himself the native materials and their oriental authorities. Mr. Elphinstone appears to us to have grasped the Indian character fully, and to have fairly described it, that is, with due allowance for all circumstances, so as to give a tolerating interpretation to many things, which strangers would pronounce to be deliberately gross vices. His inferences, just as do his principles and grounds of constructions, differ widely from those of Mill. His representations upon the whole are favourable to the people”. (The Monthly Review, May 1841) “... Elphinstone possesses the superior merit not only of having examined the native Indian materials, but of having penetrated into the Hindoo mind and grasped the principles which give unit and vitality to their entire social system ...” (The Athenaeum). “Book is entitled to unreserved commendation—style admirable ... Mr. Elphinstone has the good fortune to have written under the guidance of impressions received in India ....” (The Examiner)

Table of Contents:
HINDUS BOOK I—State of the Hindus at the Time of Menu’s Code I. Division and Employment of Classes II. Government III. Administration of Justice IV. Religion V. Manners and State of Civilization BOOK II—Changes Since Menu, and State of the Hindus in Later Times I. Changes in Cast II. Changes in the Government III. Changes in the Law IV. Present state of Religion V. Present State of Philosophy BOOK III—State of the Hindus in Later Times, Continued I. Astronomy and Mathematical Science II. Geography III. Chronology IV. Medicine V. Language VI. Literature VII. The Fine Arts VIII. Other Arts IX. Agriculture X. Commerce XI. Manners and Character BOOK IV—History of the Hindus up to the Mahometan Invasion I. History of the Hindus—Hindostan II. The Deckan APPENDICES I. On the Age of Menu and of the Vedas II. On Changes in Cast III. On the Greek Accounts of India IV. On the Greek Kingdom of Bactria V. Notes on the Revenue System MAHOMETANS BOOK V—From the Commencement of the Arab Conquests to the Establishment of a Mahometan Government in India I. Arab Conquests II. Dynasties Formed After the Breaking up of the Empire of the Califs HOUSE OF GHAZNI III. Sultan Mahmud IV. Other Kings of the Houses of Ghazni and Ghor HOUSE OF GHOR Ala u din Ghori Seif u din Ghori Gheias u din Ghori Shahab u din (or Mohammed) Ghori