{"product_id":"the-black-hole-of-calcutta-a-reconstruction","title":"The Black Hole of Calcutta: A Reconstruction","description":"\u003cp\u003eA bare  low-ceilinged dungeon with two barred air-holes  the cell known as the Black Hole prison  in the British East India Companys Fort William  was intended to hold at most a couple of prisoners. But on the terrible night of June 20  1756  at the end of a four-day battle of astonishing ferocity which saw a vast Indian horde overwhelm the Forts defenders  145 men and one woman were cruelly herded into the Black Hole. Only twenty-three survived the ten horric hours till their release at dawn. The siege of Calcutta and the night of the Black Hole together comprise one of the most dramatic episodes of British Imperial history  and Noel Barbers detailed reconstruction is so gripping and well-written that I do not hesitate to class his book as history at its compellingly readable best.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44985035620405,"sku":"ByrdShop_1585790079","price":60.52,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781585790074.jpg?v=1770843776","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-black-hole-of-calcutta-a-reconstruction","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}