A Journey through the Kingdom of Oude, Volumes I & II

"A Journey through the Kingdom of Oude, Volumes I & II" by W. H. (William Henry) Sleeman is a 19th-century record of a journey that reads like a revealing diary. It follows Major-General Sleeman's tour through the Kingdom of Oude, where he acts as a Resident at the Court of Lucknow. The narrative exposes the kingdom’s socio-political problems, laying bare the local customs alongside tales of cruelty and the many administrative problems caused by its leaders, all while the British try to exert their own influence. The narrative begins with Sleeman moving through Oude, set on giving an honest look at the kingdom's troubles and the urgent need for change. He shines a light on the incompetence and corruption of those in power, capturing the complexity of the region's cultural and social interactions. Through personal letters and thoughts on the area’s failures in governance, Sleeman's writing raises awareness of the king's carelessness and the wild disarray of the land. It's a detailed look at the realities that shaped his views and the advice he would offer to the British government.