Inglorious Empire
What the British Did to India
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Inglorious Empire
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Shashi Tharoor
-
By:
-
Shashi Tharoor
About this listen
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.
©2018 Shashi Tharoor (P)2018 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Inglorious Empire
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- David Jackson
- 10-08-18
Informative and thought-provoking
The argument is predictable but it is laid out in an interesting manner which I at least find persuasive. Even should one ultimately disagree with the central arguement it is one that is worthwhile hearing out.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- riaz zaman
- 20-07-18
Harsh reality
Tharoor expertly analyses the impact of Empire on India and explains many of the tragic consequences from it. It really is astonishing the impact and the lasting damage colonialism has had on India and many other countries around the world. From this work a reader understands the harsh reality of this period.
This is a thought provoking book and one that many more in the UK need to be aware of.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-03-21
Essential Listening
An excellent audiobook read by Shashi Tharoor himself. Essential listening for anyone piecing together Indian History.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tufael Pasha
- 19-12-21
A must read for Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi
I was looking for such an informative book about British periods in sub continent. Very informative and made me understand the actual facts and situations of that time.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- E. Ramdarshan
- 06-06-23
Very interesting
I found this book very interesting from start to finish. The statements Shashi Tharoor makes about the British Empire are backed up by quotes, events, statistics and are not just opinions. It is obvious he has a very high opinion of India (and why not) which at time might sound a little biased, but on the whole this book is very illuminating on what the Empire did in and to India and the consequences on people through the decades and still now.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- G Varsani
- 25-06-18
An informative and entertaining audiobook.
I really enjoyed listening to this informative audiobook. I bought the hard back but didn't manage to get very far. I was thrilled when the audiobook was produced. Shashi Tharoor narrates the book well. I feel I have gained a better understanding of the impact of British rule in India.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Placeholder
- 22-03-20
Penetrating insights into British Loot of India
Loved it. After reading The Great Indian Story, a political satire by Shashi Tharoor, this Inglorious Empire is his second book in my hands. I am going to read more of him in coming days & months. Shashi has penned a masterpiece expanding on his speech in Oxford Union on topic "Britain owes reparations to its colonies". I had first heard a YouTube clip of his speech around a year ago and I must say this book more than lives up to the punch of that short YouTube clip. Shashi's homework comes out solid as layer-by-layer his data driven deductive reasoning as well as emotions driven indian culture reasoning decimate all the self-aggrandazing arguments put forth by Britain portraying it as a godsend to India's subjects, polity, industry and over-all well-being... all utterly shameless farce. Hope the statistics presented are pure research based and scientific estimates and not mere guestimates. The book gives a balanced view of the key drivers of Indian politics and freedom struggle irrespective of author's personal allegiance to present day Congress Party. I would wish to see some detailing of the INA formation, it's leaders, philosophy, struggles and the threat it posed to British occupation of India in 1930s &1940s, now that moratorium on INA papers is lifted. Shashi being a narrator of this book brings authenticity to the subject albeit his voice over isn't as good as his felicity with the english language. But overall this book is seriously enjoyable.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 14-06-22
Great critique of colonialism though somewhat biased
Narration is great, and the contents of the book well-researched. However the author’s political bias is clear in his critique of Pakistan throughout the book, whilst barely being able to critique the failure of India post colonialism especially in the years under the leadership of his own party, except for throwing most of the blame - rightly or wrongly - at the opposition (the BJP). Overall, great listen, just be conscious of the author’s bias.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jason
- 17-06-23
A great listen
An interesting alternative to Niall, Fergusons Empire, How Britain made the modern world, which I thought was a great listen, until I listened to this alternative view of Britain and Empire. A recommended listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Hemang Desai
- 06-10-19
soft on the previous inglorious empire
tharoors dissection of the British Empire is thorough, but he has gone soft on previous empires such as the Mughal because of his political slant.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!