Linda Jaivin and John Zubrzycki in conversation

Name: Linda Jaivin and John Zubrzycki in conversation
Start: 2026-10-29T18:00:00+10:00
End: 2026-10-29T18:00:00+10:00
Location: Upstairs at Gleebooks

About

6pm for 6.30pm Thursday 29th October

Linda Jaivin and John Zubrzycki in conversation with Satyajit Das for the release of The Shortest History of Madrid and The Shortest History of Delhi.

Linda Jaivin covers Madrid's story, one as diverse as its population today. From the grandeur of the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties to the chaos and trauma of civil war and dictatorship, Madrid has survived it all with defiant spirit.

It has been home to some of Spain's – and the world's – most brilliant writers, thinkers and artists, from Cervantes and Goya to Hemingway and Almodóvar. It has been the setting for outrageous political scandals, mass movements and wild literary rivalries. And it continues to be a city that refuses to be defined by anything but its own irrepressible energy.

John Zubrzycki writes about Delhi, with its stories of intrigue and empire, decadence and artistry, destruction and rebirth, has been exhilarating travellers for centuries. Its history stretches back thousands of years, through invasions, empires and the struggle for independence.

This many-layered history can be seen on the streets of Delhi today – in ancient monuments to emperors, saints, princesses and eunuchs; in the domes of mosques clad in shimmering white marble; in stately Mughal gardens; and in the bustling laneways of its markets and neighbourhoods. Now, Delhi is a vast megalopolis, drawing people from all over the subcontinent, a cornucopia of religions, castes, languages and economic classes.

Linda Jaivin is the internationally published author of thirteen books, including The Shortest History of China and Bombard the Headquarters! The Cultural Revolution in China. She is also a translator and cultural commentator. After some forty-odd years writing about China, she has turned her attention to Spain with The Shortest History of Madrid.

John Zubrzycki is the author of seven acclaimed books on India that have been published internationally and translated into almost a dozen languages. His books include Dethroned: The Downfall of India's Princely States and The Shortest History of India. He has a PhD in Indian history from the University of New South Wales and has lived and worked in India as a diplomat and foreign correspondent.