The book deals with the social life of the European community in 19th century Calcutta with special reference to various categories of individuals engaged in varied pursuits in the city. Coming as it does at a time when the histories of Calcutta are rapidly becoming hot favourites of the reading public, the present book will form a very important addition to the history of the city's social life and culture.
The social structure of European society in 19th century Calcutta embodying social stratification and class exclusiveness of the upper strata of that society vis-a-vis the lower order have been dealt with in great detail with revealing instances portraying such stratification. The criminal propensities of European sailors and soldiers in that City of Palaces together with the irresponsible behaviour of newly arrived writers and cadets have also been described with great precision. The exclusive life style of European civilians and military officials in the city, followed by their perceptual indebtedness to native banians in order to maintain it have been well researched in this book together with detailed descriptions of clubs and hotels which they frequented, some of which constituted established permanent legacies of European civilization in Calcutta.