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Keynote SpeakerSam Dalrymple

Internationally Bestselling Author, Historian and Filmmaker specialising in South Asian history

Sam Dalrymple is the internationally bestselling author of Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia, a Finalist for the 2026 Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The book was named a Best Book of 2025 by the Financial Times, NPR, The Spectator, BBC History Magazine, The Week, History... Read more

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Watch Sam Dalrymple in action

  • Book Talk with Sam Dalrymple: Shattered Lands

  • Shocking History Behind India-Pakistan Borders | Sam Dalrymple | KLF2026

  • JLF 2025: Sam Dalrymple on Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia

  • Conversation with Sam Dalrymple, Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia

  • Shattered Lands : Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia | Jaipur Literature Festival 2026

Popular Talks by Sam Dalrymple

  • Project Dastaan

    The story of the peace-building initiative Dalrymple co-founded, which uses VR to reunite Partition refugees with the homes they fled in 1947. The project was exhibited at the Smithsonian, the V&A and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Also available with Dalrymple’s cofounders Sparsh Ahuja and Saadia Gardezi.

  • Oral History and the Race Against Forgetting

    The generation that witnessed Partition, the Second World War and the Holocaust is passing within the same decade. Drawing on his experience recording Partition survivors across three continents, Dalrymple argues that oral history must be treated with the same seriousness, and the same critical rigour, as any archive, and shows…

  • Travels of Samwise: What Undocumented Architecture Tells Us

    Drawn from Dalrymple’s widely read publication Travels of Samwise, this talk shows how to read history in stone, and what is lost when these places disappear. The talk focuses specifically on places of worship that challenge national narratives: the temples of Mughal India, the synagogues of Ottoman Istanbul and the…

  • Temples of the Mughal Empire

    Contrary to popular narratives, some of India’s grandest temples rose under Mughal rule, many funded by the emperors themselves. Drawing on the acclaimed MARG volume Beyond the Mughal Arch, which Dalrymple guest-edited, this talk overturns one of South Asia’s most politically charged myths and reveals a forgotten world of shared…

  • Book Lecture on Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia

    As recently as 1928, the British Raj stretched from Aden to Rangoon, binding a quarter of the world’s population into a single imperial entity. Today it is twelve nation states. Drawing on untranslated memoirs and interviews in eight languages, this talk reveals how the map of modern Asia was made,…

  • Lost Migrations: Screening and Q&A

    A screening of Dalrymple’s award-winning animated series Lost Migrations, which recovers forgotten Partition stories from Burma to Bengal, followed by a conversation on filmmaking, memory and migration.

Biography

Sam Dalrymple is the internationally bestselling author of Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia, a Finalist for the 2026 Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The book was named a Best Book of 2025 by the Financial Times, NPR, The Spectator, BBC History Magazine, The Week, History Today, Waterstones and Daunt Books, and is being translated into five languages. It has been shortlisted for the Eastern Eye Award for History, the Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman and the Atta Galatta BLF Prizes.

Dalrymple is also an award-winning filmmaker. His debut film, Child of Empire, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022 and won the inaugural XR History Award from Germany’s Körber-Stiftung, while his animated series Lost Migrations sold out at the BFI. In 2018 he co-founded Project Dastaan, a peace-building initiative reconnecting refugees displaced by the 1947 Partition of India, whose work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Asian Art Museum, with support from the British Council and the Ford Foundation.

On the side, Sam runs Travels of Samwise, one of Substack’s fastest-growing history publications, where tens of thousands of readers follow his weekly dispatches. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, TIME and The Spectator. He was a columnist for Architectural Digest from 2023-2026, and in 2025 Travel & Leisure named him its ‘Champion of the Travel Narrative’.

Raised in Delhi and educated at Oxford as a Persian and Sanskrit scholar, Dalrymple also studied in Iran and has worked across the region with Turquoise Mountain in Kabul and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Lahore and Hunza.

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What clients say about Sam Dalrymple

“It has been an incredible honor and joy to work on it together, and the impact has been profound. Not only did the project share the important history of Partition with audiences here, it did so in a way that allowed so many to see their stories and those of their families reflected. As audiences visited, often several generations coming together, we heard again and again how this was "their story." To create such moments of connection and openness is rare, and I'm deeply grateful we were able to make that possible here through your work.” Padma Dorje Maitland, Malavalli Family Foundation Associate Curator, Asian Art Museum SF
"Your talk on partition was fantastic and so insightful, we could tell that it really resonated with the audience and that they learnt a lot from it... Our warmest thanks again for your brilliant talk!" Jack Parlett, Producer, 5x15

How to book Sam Dalrymple as a keynote speaker

How do I book Sam Dalrymple for a keynote speech?

You can book Sam Dalrymple through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Sam's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Sam Dalrymple's speaking fees?

Sam Dalrymple's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Sam tailored to your event.

What topics does Sam Dalrymple speak about?

Sam Dalrymple speaks on Asia, Authors, Leadership & Motivation, Society & Education. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Sam to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Sam Dalrymple available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Sam Dalrymple for events worldwide, subject to Sam's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Sam Dalrymple deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Sam Dalrymple is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Sam Dalrymple?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Sam can accommodate.

Can Sam Dalrymple tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Sam Dalrymple on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Sam can offer.

What languages does Sam Dalrymple present in?

Sam Dalrymple delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Sam Dalrymple a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Sam Dalrymple's areas of expertise include Asia, Authors, Leadership & Motivation, Society & Education. To get a clear sense of Sam's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can Sam Dalrymple speak at?

Sam Dalrymple can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Asia, Authors, Leadership & Motivation, Society & Education is relevant. Details of Sam's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does Sam Dalrymple offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Sam Dalrymple is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Sam Dalrymple?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Sam Dalrymple, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Sam's current availability for your dates.