Born in Scotland, James Fergusson (1808–86) spent ten years as an indigo planter in India before embarking upon a second career as an architectural historian. Although he had no formal training, he became one of the most respected researchers in the field and an expert on India's cave temples. His History of Indian and Eastern Architecture was first published in 1876 and became a standard work. It was revised in this two-volume edition of 1910 by James Burgess (1832–1916), former Director of the Archaeological Survey of India, and Richard Spiers (1838–1916), a noted architect and historian of architecture. Volume 1 covers Buddhist and Himalayan architecture, the Dravidian style of southern India, and the later Chalukyan style from southern and central India in the early medieval period. Illustrated with 280 maps, plans and drawings, this work of impressive scope remains relevant to students of Indian architecture and history.
