Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 1 by Charles Eliot (1862 - 1931)

Started in 1907, An Historical Sketch was a work in 3 volumes, of which this is the first. The author was a British diplomat posted to Asia and his great work was interrupted by World War I, finally being published in 1921. It has been described as the definitive work on the subject and the style is easy to read and follow.