An Anglo-Russian-Afghan, Diana De Gunzburg’s great-grandfather was the last man to be publicly hanged in British India for making war on the Crown. Diana was brought up between the North West Frontier- where her father still farms his estate- and her mother's native Yorkshire. A Yoga teacher based in Paris, she was recently interviewed about her family background on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

 A scion of Bettys & Taylors, the Harrogate dynasty of makers of Yorkshire Tea, Tony Wild was a director of the company but gave up the tea business to write full time. Fascinated by the relationship between the British and the Indian subcontinent, he explored South Asia as a young man, and has written two popular histories, The East India Company: Trade and Conquest from 1600 and Remains of the Raj, which Jan Morris nominated as her book of the year. He is official Historiographer of the East India Company.

Two authors from very different backgrounds overthrow Kipling's notion that 'East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet.'

On Wednesday, July 7 evening The Nehru Centre (Cultural Centre of the Indian High Commission at 8 South Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K  1HF) has invited Diana De Gunzburg and Tony Wild to talk about their book, The Moonstone Legacy,  with Lahore-born Reginald Massey, the well-known Indian writer, critic and broadcaster.

He writes:  'Apart from being a good read, the authors have delved into the often complex relationship between Britain and South Asia. This relationship fraught with misunderstandings and cultural differences has nevertheless been rewarding and rich in several ways. To an extent they have updated Kipling and Forster which is commendable.'