SKU: 31016786044

An Era of Darkness The British Empire in India By Shashi Tharoor

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An Era of Darkness The British Empire in India By Shashi TharoorAn Era of Darkness The British Empire in India By Shashi Tharoor Product Description: In 1930, the American historian and philosopher Will Durant wrote about Britain's conscious and deliberate bleeding of India. [was the] greatest crime in all history? He was not the only one to denounce the rapacity and cruelty of British rule, and his assessment was not exaggerated. Almost thirty five million Indians died because of acts of commission and omission

An Era of Darkness The British Empire in India By Shashi Tharoor

Product Description:

In 1930, the American historian and philosopher Will Durant wrote about Britain's conscious and deliberate bleeding of India. [was the] greatest crime in all history? He was not the only one to denounce the rapacity and cruelty of British rule, and his assessment was not exaggerated. Almost thirty-five million Indians died because of acts of commission and omission by the British? in famines, epidemics, communal riots, and wholesale slaughter like the reprisal killings after the 1857 War of Independence and the Amritsar massacre of 1919. Besides the deaths of Indians, British rule impoverished India in a manner that beggars belief. When the East India Company took control of the country, in the chaos that ensued after the collapse of the Mughal empire, India's share of world GDP was 23 percent. When the British left it was just above 3 percent. The British empire in India began with the East India Company, incorporated in 1600, by the royal charter of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I, to trade in silk, spices, and other profitable Indian commodities. Within a century and a half, the Company had become a power to reckon with in India. In 1757, under the command of Robert Clive, Company forces defeated the ruling Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula of Bengal at Plassey, through a combination of superior artillery and even more superior chicanery. A few years later, the young and weakened Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II, was browbeaten into issuing an edict that replaced his own revenue officials with the Company's representatives. Over the next several decades, the East India Company, backed by the British government, extended its control over most of India, ruling with a combination of extortion, double-dealing, and outright corruption backed by violence and superior force. This state of affairs continued until 1857 when large numbers of the Company?s Indian soldiers spearheaded the first major rebellion against colonial rule. After the rebels were defeated, the British Crown took over power and ruled the country ostensibly more benignly until 1947, when India won independence. In this explosive book, bestselling author Shashi Tharoor reveals with acuity, impeccable research, and trademark wit, just how disastrous British rule was for India. Besides examining the many ways in which the colonizers exploited India, ranging from the drain of national resources to Britain, the destruction of the Indian textile, steel-making, and shipping industries, and the negative transformation of agriculture, he demolishes the arguments of Western and Indian apologists for Empire on the supposed benefits of British rule, including democracy and political freedom, the rule of law, and the railways. The few unarguable benefits?the English language, tea, and cricket?were never actually intended for the benefit of the colonized but introduced to serve the interests of the colonizers. Brilliantly narrated and passionately argued, An Era of Darkness will serve to correct many misconceptions about one of the most contested periods of Indian history.

Product Details:

  • Publisher:‎ Aleph Book Company; First Edition (27 October 2016)
  • Language:‎ English
  • Hardcover:‎ 360 pages
  • Reading age: 18 years and up
  • Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 2.05 cm
  • Country of Origin: India

Legal Disclaimer: Product images are for illustrative purposes only. Images/packaging/ labels may vary from time to time due to changes made by the manufacturer's manufacturing batch and location. The product description is for information purposes only.

Product ID:14262040

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SKU: 31016786044

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The Art and Making of
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 4
Another Great Entry In This Series!
Format: Hardcover
See video for review. (For a full flip through and in-depth review, follow the Youtube link on my Amazon profile).
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Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018
R
Reverend Skull
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 3
for Simpson fans
Format: Hardcover
If you're a fan of the Simpsons' neighbor, this will certainly tickle your funnybone. Good old left-handed Ned tells and shows all, God bless him.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2009
K
Verified Purchase
Kristi Hernandez
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
READ THIS IMMEDIATELY
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
No seriously pause. Because what in the actual psychological horror fever dream did I just read??? BUT like in a five stars my brain is permanently altered kind of way Everything about this book felt like perfection wrapped in dread. It has been living rent free in my head since I closed it and honestly I don't see it leaving anytime soon. I have tried to pick up other books since and my brain just says no we live here now (badumchaaa iykyk) I devoured it in one day because putting it down was simply not an option. I wasn't even expecting to get this invested but something about Kliewers writing just grabbed me by the throat and said you have taken on the job as caretaker you can't leave now This is not just a book you read It is a book that stays And lingers It is intense. Creepy. Deep. Completely mind bending in a way that feels personal. Yes it delivers that classic something is lurking terror but the real horror is the emotional kind. The kind that pokes at your soft spots and doesnt apologize. It hits fear. Loneliness. Grief. Depression. Regret. And it does it in a way that feels uncomfortably real. Like you are not just scared, you are seen. And that is just absolutely terrifying And Macey. I have never seen myself so clearly in a character. She is me. I am her. The overthinking? The spiraling inner monologues? The dry humor? I felt personally attacked in the most validating way. I highlighted SO many of her thoughts because I swear I have had those exact conversations with myself. No lie. I want to scream at everyone to read this while also gently grabbing you by the shoulders and saying CHECK THE CONTENT WARNINGS FIRST This book goes to some heavy places. But if you can handle those please PRETTY PLEASE pick it up AND PLEASE JUST TURN OFF THE LIGHT Huge thank you to Atria, Netgalley, and Marcus Kleiwer for this advanced invitation to Brooksview Heights and introducing me to my favorite book of the year so far anyway
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Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
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Verified Purchase
Megs
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Another great book
Format: Hardcover
The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer As a fan of We Used to Live Here, I was really excited to receive an ARC of The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer—and it definitely delivered. This story had exactly the kind of atmosphere I was hoping for: tense, eerie, and creepy. Kliewer does a fantastic job building suspense and keeping that uneasy feeling simmering throughout the book. There were quite a few moments where I found myself practically yelling at the main character to make different choices but it also added to the tension in a way that kept me fully invested. Overall, this was a gripping read with aN unsettling and a compelling storyline.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
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Verified Purchase
LibraryJunkie
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 3
Weird story, but great writing
Format: Hardcover
This novel started out strong: good premise, good writing that pulls you in and makes you feel like you're there with the main character, and a great setting for creepiness. BUT, as I continued to read, I got more frustrated by it. The main character's actions become irritating, the story bogs down a bit towards the end, and there is ZERO explanation for any of the purpose behind her actions. Some questions I still have: WHY do you have to follow these specific instructions, what really happens if you don't, and WHO are the people on the phone? If you're a fan of "Lost" or "From", you'll probably enjoy this. But if you need closure and a solid ending, this might only frustrate you.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026

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