John Zubrzycki is an Australian author and researcher, specialising in South Asia, in particular India.
His latest book, The Shortest History of India is published by Black Inc. (Australia) with editions in India, the UK and the US forthcoming as well as translations into multiple languages.
He is the best-selling author of The House of Jaipur: The Inside Story of India's Most Glamorous Royal Family, published by Juggernaut (India) and Hurst (UK), Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic published by Hurst (UK), Oxford University Press (USA), Scribe (Australia) and in India as Jadoowallahs, Jugglers and Jinns: A Magical History of India by Picador. His earlier books are The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback (2006 Pan Macmillan, Australia; 2007 Picador, India) and The Mysterious Mr Jacob: Diamond Merchant, Magician and Spy (2013 Random House, India; 2017 Transit Lounge, Australia).
In 2019 he received a doctorate from the University of New South Wales for his thesis investigating the historical links between Indian and Western stage magicians. In 2021 he was awarded the Merewhether Fellowship at the State Library of NSW to research links between Australia and Asia in the field of popular culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 2021 he worked as Manager, International Media at Expo 2020 in Dubai.
From 2009-13 he was the editor of the world commentary section at The Australian newspaper and also worked as deputy foreign editor, leader writer and special reports editor. He worked at The Australian's Sydney bureau since 1999, having joined after a four year stint as a foreign correspondent in New Delhi for The Australian, The South China Morning Post and The Christian Science Monitor.
Previously he has worked as an Australian diplomat with postings in New Delhi and Jakarta, a broadcaster with Radio Australia, consultant and academic. He graduated from the Australian National University in 1984 with degrees in South Asian history and politics and completed a cadetship at The Age newspaper. As an author he is represented by Curtis Brown Australia.
