The Interest: How the British Establishment Resisted the Abolition of Slavery
by Michael Taylor
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For two hundred years, the abolition of slavery in Britain has been a cause for self-congratulation - but no longer. In 1807, Parliament outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire, but for the next quarter of a century, despite heroic and bloody rebellions, more than 700,000 people in the British colonies remained enslaved. And when a renewed abolitionist campaign was mounted, making slave ownership the defining political and moral issue of the day, emancipation was fiercely resisted by show more the powerful 'West India Interest'. Supported by nearly every leading figure of the British establishment - including Canning, Peel and Gladstone, The Times and Spectator - the Interest ensured that slavery survived until 1833 and that when abolition came at last, compensation worth billions in today's money was given not to the enslaved but to the slaveholders, entrenching the power of their families to shape modern Britain to this day. Drawing on major new research, this long-overdue and ground-breaking history provides a gripping narrative account of the tumultuous and often violent battle - between rebels and planters, between abolitionists and the pro-slavery establishment - that divided and scarred the nation during these years of upheaval. The Interest reveals the lengths to which British leaders went to defend the indefensible in the name of profit, showing that the ultimate triumph of abolition came at a bitter cost and was one of the darkest and most dramatic episodes in British history. show lessTags
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A meticulously researched look at the shocking story of the West Indian & British government self-interest that held up the process of emancipation for the slaves in the British colonies of the caribbean.
This is a fascinating insight into the history of abolition and despite the passage of nearly two hundred years this book left me angry and at times almost in tears of frustration as the British government and the West Indian 'Interest' resisted at every turn the freeing of the slaves.
Like most people in Britain I was aware of the slave trade but had no idea of the lengths that the interested parties went to to avoid the anti-slavery campaign coming to fruition.
This is a well written history that charts both the twists and turns of the show more politics at home as well as the stories of ill treatment and rebellion abroad.
This book fills in many gaps in my education that were ignored when at school in the 1970's and puts a number of English 'heroes' reputations in a new light.
A great read that covers a topic that is now at the forefront of everyone's minds with the Black Lives Matter campaign this summer
If you think you understand about the trials and tribulations of the abolitionists in the 19th century then I suggest you give this a try. show less
This is a fascinating insight into the history of abolition and despite the passage of nearly two hundred years this book left me angry and at times almost in tears of frustration as the British government and the West Indian 'Interest' resisted at every turn the freeing of the slaves.
Like most people in Britain I was aware of the slave trade but had no idea of the lengths that the interested parties went to to avoid the anti-slavery campaign coming to fruition.
This is a well written history that charts both the twists and turns of the show more politics at home as well as the stories of ill treatment and rebellion abroad.
This book fills in many gaps in my education that were ignored when at school in the 1970's and puts a number of English 'heroes' reputations in a new light.
A great read that covers a topic that is now at the forefront of everyone's minds with the Black Lives Matter campaign this summer
If you think you understand about the trials and tribulations of the abolitionists in the 19th century then I suggest you give this a try. show less
A dramatic narrative history based on new research revealing the previously hidden side of the story of abolition SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING A DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR For two hundred years, the abolition of slavery in Britain has been a cause for self-congratulation - but no longer. In 1807, Parliament outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire. But for the next 25 years more than 700,000 people remained enslaved, due to the immensely powerful pro-slavery group the 'West India Interest'. This ground-breaking history discloses the extent to which the 'Interest' were supported by nearly every figure of the British establishment - fighting, not to abolish slavery, but to maintain it for profit. show more Gripping and unflinching, The Interest is the long-overdue expose of one of Britain's darkest, most turbulent times. 'A critical piece of history and a devastating expose' Shashi Tharoor, author of Inglorious Empire 'Thoroughly researched and potent' David Lammy MP 'Essential reading' Simon Sebag Montefiore show less
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2 Works 174 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
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The Guardian Book of the Day (2020-10-29)
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 306.3620941 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social Behavior - Dating, Marriage, Divorce Economic institutions Systems of labor Slavery Biography And History Biography And History Europe
- LCC
- HT1161 .T39 — Social sciences Communities. Classes. Races Communities. Classes. Races Classes Slavery
- BISAC
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- 64
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- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.25)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 2
