John Keay's 'The Honourable Company: a History of the English East India Company' is a detailed account of how the British East India Company evolved from a trading enterprise to an influential arm of the British state. Keay meticulously charts the rise and fall of the Company over 213 years, showcasing its immense wealth and its intimate relationship with governing elites. The book delves into the complexities of the Company's commercial and political endeavors, shedding light on how it became the unofficial government of India by approximately 1650. Keay's narrative, although at times dense and detailed, paints a vivid picture of the lucrative yet often chaotic history of the Company.
Genres:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains themes of colonialism and exploitation, and while it covers complex historical events, it may require caution for readers sensitive to discussions of imperialism and its impacts.
From The Publisher:
A history of the English East India company.
During 200 years the East India Company grew from a loose association of Elizabethan tradesmen into "the grandest society of merchants in the universe". As a commercial enterprise it came to control half the world's trade and as a political entity it administered an embryonic empire. Without it there would have been no British India and no British Empire. In a tapestry ranging from Southern Africa to north-west America, and from the reign of Elizabeth I to that of Victoria, bizarre locations and roguish personality abound. From Bombay to Singapore and Hong Kong the political geography of today is, in some respects, the result of the Company. This book looks at the history of the East India Company.
What can you read after
The Honourable Company: a History of the English East India Company?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
