Empireworld
How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
In his ground-breaking new book, Sathnam Sanghera traces the legacies of British empire around the world.
‘Beautifully written, and not just a welcome corrective but a book for our times. This is essential reading’ Peter Frankopan
‘An absolute masterpiece’ James O’Brien
‘Deeply poignant . . . riveting . . . brave, painful, urgent and timely’ Jerry Brotton, Financial Times
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2.6 billion people are inhabitants of former British colonies.
The empire's influence upon the quarter of the planet it occupied, and its gravitational influence upon the world outside it, has been profound: from the spread of Christianity by missionaries, to nearly 1 in 3 driving on the left side of the road, to the origins of international law. Yet Britain's idea of its imperial history and the world's experience of it are two very different things.
With an inimitable combination of wit, political insight and personal honesty, the award-winning author and journalist explores the international legacies of British empire – from the creation of tea plantations across the globe, to environmental destruction, conservation, and the imperial connotations of Royal tours.
His journey takes him from Barbados and Mauritius to India and Nigeria and beyond. In doing so, Sanghera demonstrates just how deeply British imperialism is baked into our world.
And why it’s time Britain was finally honest with itself about empire.
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‘If Britain wants to move forward as a key player on the world stage, Sanghera demonstrates, we must take time to understand our past — all warts, and all wonders, considered’ Alice Loxton, The Sunday Times
‘Engages in deep research and historical re-analysis . . . also a profoundly moving work of personal insight, intelligence and compassion’ Elizabeth Day
‘Puts Sanghera in the firmament of great imperial historians’ Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, The i
Instant Sunday Times bestseller, January 2024
Customer Reviews
Never ending story
4.5 stars
The author is a British (his parents came from Punjab) award-winning journalist, novelist, memoirist and, most recently, historian. ‘Empireland: How Empire Shaped Modern Britain’ (2001) was a best-seller (rightly so, IMO).
In this sequel to ‘ Empireland’, Mr S looks at the impact of the British Empire on places outside Britain. His focus is on colonies and protectorates where the native population are people of colour, wholly or predominantly, India and the West Indies especially. Slavery and the impact that immigrants from those places have made on the mother country, as well as vice versa, feature prominently. Palestine gets a look in. Canada, Australia and New Zealand only make cameo appearances, mainly regarding their First Nations peoples.
Mr S’s excellent prose is worth reading whatever the subject. This book provides counterpoint to recent publications by white authors — Bruce Gilley and Nigel Biggar to name but two — that argue colonialism wasn’t all bad and have copped considerable flack as “anti-woke” apologia. Mr S agrees that colonialism wan’t all bad, but provides a more nuanced view of the pros, as well as a more realistic (to his way of thinking) view of the cons.