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gabe_reads's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Really informative book, written with an interesting perspective on the author's personal relationship with Britain and her empire.
I really enjoyed the bits about immigration going on earlier than we think of it happening, and the way that anti-slavery laws were circumvented. I also found the chapters on the impact on British politics and the way Britons during Empire and now behave around the world. And on the way that Empire and Racism were a vicious cycle. Racism wasn't always a rationale for empire at the start, but empire led to racism which then led to more empire. I also found all the sections on the East India Company fascinating. It just beggars belief that something like that could even exist.
Some things I liked less were the way some chapters felt a lot like lists of interesting things, without great flow to them.
I really enjoyed the bits about immigration going on earlier than we think of it happening, and the way that anti-slavery laws were circumvented. I also found the chapters on the impact on British politics and the way Britons during Empire and now behave around the world. And on the way that Empire and Racism were a vicious cycle. Racism wasn't always a rationale for empire at the start, but empire led to racism which then led to more empire. I also found all the sections on the East India Company fascinating. It just beggars belief that something like that could even exist.
Some things I liked less were the way some chapters felt a lot like lists of interesting things, without great flow to them.
daisyro24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Deeply interesting and necessary book!
_kieralou's review against another edition
5.0
This should be required reading - if you’re British please pick this up. It’s an illuminating book about the legacy of empire and imperialism, and how insidious it can be in everyday life. It was shocking and is a tough read but I feel so much more knowledgable about this subject and have come away with several recommendations for more further reading and learning on the subject.