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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
This book should be compulsory reading for every Brit, particularly any flag-waving colonial apologists. I consider myself a well-educated woman and yet I had only heard of a small fraction of the events harrowingly described in this book. It made me righteously angry at every moment - except the bit about cricket, admittedly - and it is a travesty that the realities of Empire aren't taught in schools.
I enjoyed the audiobook version, as read by the author, and I think that his narration does bring the sometimes fact-laden text to life.
I enjoyed the audiobook version, as read by the author, and I think that his narration does bring the sometimes fact-laden text to life.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
As a polemic, this book really does deliver. It has ample evidence and eloquent yet cogent rhetorical prose that far bests any account from Empire apologists I have read/ watched. However, as a historical text (if we were to assume the aim would be to present as accurate a picture as possible of the British Raj), this book does not hold up as well. In particular, Tharoor's penchant for moral vitriol and over-reliance on older polemics throws into question the veracity of his arguments. Nevertheless, I found myself enjoying this book overall, and would like to re-read it someday to pick up on aspects I undoubtedly would have missed on the first read.
informative
slow-paced
Tharoor clearly states that he's not writing a history, but he doesn't quite hit polemic either. Instead, this is more like a heavily annotated bibliography (or an undergraduate thesis, if you're feeling uncharitable). It's quite a good summary of quotations and citations from both primary and secondary sources (especially contemporary Western anti-imperialists), and you don't need a particularly subtle argument to arrive at the conclusion that the British Empire was bad for India. However, the only topics on which Tharoor seems to have his own strong opinions are 1) ways the Indian National Congress screwed up during and after WWII, and 2) cricket.
On a personal note, while I understand why the book is arranged thematically rather than chronologically, I wish there had been some introductory explanation of the colonial financial structure under both the Company and the Raj. I felt this lack particularly in the first section, which is full of sentences that begin "The Indian Government paid for..." with the assumption that the reader will know what that means in this context.
On a personal note, while I understand why the book is arranged thematically rather than chronologically, I wish there had been some introductory explanation of the colonial financial structure under both the Company and the Raj. I felt this lack particularly in the first section, which is full of sentences that begin "The Indian Government paid for..." with the assumption that the reader will know what that means in this context.
What I felt was a very balanced accounting by the author who's heritage were the native population of the area. The British did really exploit the situation. This is history, something that can be used to learn something about human nature. Just because your smart doesn't automatically mean your right.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Before read this book Must watch “ Britain owes reparations to her former colonies ”
Oxford Union debate
Oxford Union debate
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced