Inglorious Empire cover art

Inglorious Empire

What the British Did to India

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

Inglorious Empire

By: Shashi Tharoor
Narrated by: Shashi Tharoor
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £9.48

Buy Now for £9.48

Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Inglorious Empire written and read by Shashi Tharoor.

In the eighteenth century, India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947, after two centuries of British rule, it had decreased six-fold. The Empire blew rebels from cannon, massacred unarmed protesters, entrenched institutionalised racism, and caused millions to die from starvation.

British imperialism justified itself as enlightened despotism for the benefit of the governed, but Shashi Tharoor takes demolishes this position, demonstrating how every supposed imperial 'gift' - from the railways to the rule of law - was designed in Britain's interests alone. He goes on to show how Britain's Industrial Revolution was founded on India's deindustrialisation, and the destruction of its textile industry.

In this bold and incisive reassessment of colonialism, Tharoor exposes to devastating effect the inglorious reality of Britain's stained Indian legacy.

 18th Century 19th Century Asia Colonialism & Post-Colonialism Great Britain India Modern Politics & Government South Asia Colonial Period Imperialism Self-Determination Thought-Provoking Africa England Capitalism Social justice Socialism Taxation Middle Ages British Empire
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c

Critic reviews

Tharoor convincingly demolishes some of the more persistent myths about Britain's supposedly civilising mission in India ... [he] charts the destruction of pre-colonial systems of government by the British and their ubiquitous ledgers and rule books ... The statistics are worth repeating. (Victor Mallet)
Inglorious Empire is a timely reminder of the need to start teaching unromanticised colonial history in British schools. A welcome antidote to the nauseating righteousness and condescension pedalled by Niall Ferguson in his 2003 book Empire
His writing is a delight and he seldom misses his target ... Tharoor should be applauded for tackling an impossibly contentious subject ... he deserves to be read. Indians are not the only ones who need reminding that empire has a lot to answer for.
Remarkable ... The book is savagely critical of 200 years of the British in India. It makes very uncomfortable reading for Brits (Matt Ridley)
Tharoor's impassioned polemic slices straight to the heart of the darkness that drives all empires. Forceful, persuasive and blunt, he demolishes Raj nostalgia, laying bare the grim, and high, cost of the British Empire for its former subjects. An essential read (Niljana Roy)
Ferocious and astonishing. Essential for a Britain lost in sepia fantasies about its past, Inglorious Empire is history at its clearest and cutting best (Ben Judah)
Those Brits who speak confidently about how Britain's "historical and cultural ties" to India will make it easy to strike a great new trade deal should read Mr Tharoor's book. It would help them to see the world through the eyes of the ... countries once colonised or defeated by Britain (Gideon Rachman)
Rare indeed is it to come across history that is so readable and so persuasive (Amitav Ghosh)
Eloquent ... a well-written riposte to those texts that celebrate empire as a supposed "force for good"
Tharoor's book - arising from a contentious Oxford Union debate in 2015 where he proposed the motion "Britain owes reparations to her former colonies" - should keep the home fires burning, so to speak, both in India and in Britain. ... He makes a persuasive case, with telling examples
All stars
Most relevant
The author allows the facts to speak for themselves, whilst presenting an unquestionably compelling rebuttal of recent and historical apologists for colonialism.

A very timely and valuable book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I came across this author through various short media bites on social media and bring a Indian born and British raised adult in recent years I've wanted to learn about Indian history, moreso the years during the colonial past of India under the British. This is merely one perspective and factual account often referencing material from official British records I was traumatized by some of the revelations of the action s under British rule (no spoilers) make or it what you will by having a listen. The narrator is Shashi Tharoor for me I found it difficult to engage with his style but this may also be due to the fact the book is written from a analytical and referencing perspective so it maybe a better read than listen. However it's a great piece of literature and worth having in your collection.

Hard hitting and educational

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Superbly researched, lucidly written, and in the words of historian David Olusoga, "damning". This books delves into the finer threading of colonialism in India, and rips apart stitch by a stitch colonial apologetics. Makes for uncomfortable reading, but that is exactly why Inglorious Empire is necessary.

Damning

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Must read for everyone - especially for those born in India and UK. Haven’t read such a comprehensive book on colonial history yet.

Fantastic book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I always wondered how we have so much as a small country. Now I know where we got it from. All governments now use an element of the strategies the Raj used to control their populations.

Shocked Me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews