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zaggeta's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully written and detailed appraisal of the Victorian era, culminating with Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (the framing device for the subsequent book). While not a good introductory text to understanding the British Empire, this book is full of wonderful anecdotes, stories, facts and information about one of the world's most vibrant empires.
The book exposes the good, the bad, and the ugly of empire, painting a picture of a constantly changing people and polity, ruled by greed and principles - often at the same time.
It tells this tale through the many voices and people of empire, bringing them to life and telling the tales of the many people and locations that made up this colossus, and helped it change the world.
The book exposes the good, the bad, and the ugly of empire, painting a picture of a constantly changing people and polity, ruled by greed and principles - often at the same time.
It tells this tale through the many voices and people of empire, bringing them to life and telling the tales of the many people and locations that made up this colossus, and helped it change the world.
stewg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
bookeboy's review against another edition
5.0
The scope of this book is enormous. If you have an interest in the causes of the horrors of the 20th century then this book will answer many questions for you. It sets the 19th century Imperial scene perfectly.
satyridae's review
4.0
This is much more episodic than I anticipated, but I liked it. It was sometimes confusing enough that I had to go back and re-listen to the previous chapter, and some of the swooping flights back and forth through time were a little much, but overall I adored it. This is 80% war/soldiery focused, not a lot about technology, and that was a bit disappointing- but the stories of the soldiers and adventurers and rogues and ruffians made up for it. Some clear-cut cautionary tales about why conquering your neighboring country (or countries halfway around the world) is a bad idea. I will look for the next book in this trilogy, for sure.
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