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A review by gabe_reads
Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain by Sathnam Sanghera
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.