A shy, serious boy, Mahatma Gandhi would later lead India to nationhood and change the course of history. After studying law in London, he championed Indian rights in South Africa for two decades. He returned to India in 1914, leading a campaign of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience against British rule. Philip Wilkinson's lively narrative takes us through his remarkable life, up to India's independence in 1947, and the tragic conclusion; in 1948 Gandhi was assassinated by a fanatic opposed to his program of tolerance for all creeds and religions.

Philip Wilkinson has written nearly 50 books for adults and children. They range from his first book, Amazing Buildings, which won an award from the American Institute of Architects, to A Celebration of Customs and Rituals of the World, which was endorsed by the United Nations. He has also written several successful TV tie-ins, including What the Romans Did for Us and Restoration. Wilkinson lives in the Cotswolds, England, with his wife and son.