In the Shadow of the Mahatma

In the Shadow of the Mahatma was published in 1999 as a scholarly exploration of the life and work of C.F. Andrews, an English Anglican priest who became one of Mahatma Gandhi's most trusted confidants. The book emerged from Susan Billington Harper's meticulous research into the religious and political landscape of colonial India, aiming to provide a nuanced portrait of Andrews's role as a bridge between the British colonial establishment and the Indian independence movement.

The text is noted for its historiographical depth, drawing heavily on primary sources to analyze how Andrews negotiated his Christian identity alongside his profound commitment to Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence. Academic reviewers praised the work for its psychological insight and its ability to illuminate the complex, often fraught personal relationships that defined the era, marking it as a significant contribution to the study of cross-cultural religious engagement in the twentieth century.