CALCUTTA (now Kolkata), in its northern and central stretches, is studded with old and lavish houses. They belong to elite Bengali families that have played an important role in the history of this city. Time has not been kind to all of these homes; even then, they surprise and stun with what remains of their elegance and beauty. This limited-edition volume presents a suite of over 200 photographs (in colour, monochrome and traditional B&W) that take the viewer on a rare journey inside thirty-five such houses. It presents an intimate view of the scale and charm of these buildings—especially the interiors, which are seldom accessible to unrestricted public entry. The brief, lucid writing sets the context. The photographs match their subject in aesthetic appeal, and pay a fitting tribute to these stately homes. Exhibited in Calcutta (2012) and London (2013) PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Exquisitely crafted and printed on virgin paper, this limited-print, luxury volume is intended to be a Collector’s Edition presenting the very best of photographer Anirban Mitra’s magnum opus on the old, elite homes of Calcutta. The project was more than 10 years in the making, following research and field-study by the photographer himself “These rare images take us into the interiors of a vanishing society and provide an insight into the cultural collage found in the palaces of this city. Many of the houses have never been showcased in this manner. These are not merely images of buildings that have been mute witnesses to centuries of eventful history, but photographic art dedicated to a glorious and significant chapter of Calcutta’s—and India’s—past. Here is a narrative of splendour and pathos alike, created lovingly for sheer visual delight, and for further study and reflections.” – Gouri Basu, Director, EZCC Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India “Mitra’s photographs are highly evocative and capture the poetry and mystery of the places he photographs” – from the Foreword by Derry Moore.