Inglorious Empire Audiobook By Shashi Tharoor cover art

Inglorious Empire

What the British Did to India

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Inglorious Empire

By: Shashi Tharoor
Narrated by: Shashi Tharoor
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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 Ideologies & Doctrines India Modern Politics & Government South Asia Colonial Period Imperialism Africa Self-Determination Socialism Law Social justice Middle Ages Capitalism Middle East Latin America

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
Detailed History • Informative Content • Excellent Narration • Educational Perspective • Comprehensive References

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Really informative. Liked it a lot! As a latin american I sometimes lack the proper knowledge about the other aide of the world.

Amazing! Loved it!

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I didn't feel it was baised. it covers all the angles! Must read for youngsters!

Really cool

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Why we get only half assed stories about the greatest conquest of our country in schools? Mr Tharoor is right on we Indians forgive and forget easily. We should forgive but not forget. Never forget.
I felt like I needed a punching bag when listening to this audiobook, it really makes me angry at the wrong doings. Our present we owe to our history, so please don’t tell me that’s all in the past. Thank you.

Must be part of all Indian and British curriculum

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This is excellent depiction of what Britishers did to India. Being 68 year old Indian this is first time I was exposed to darker side of British Raj. Very well done, Shashi.
A must read book

An eye opener

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Shashi Tharoor’s voice is mesmerizing and his diction pleasing to the ears. It works like a master class to those who are not native English speakers. How wonderful it feels to listen to audiobooks by the authors themselves.
This book was like a revision of the history of India during British rule. It just flows and ends and you will be on a roller coaster ride with thrilling moments of Gloriousness of India before Britishers came in, to the torture that our ancestors faced. It certainly strikes a chord and you start thinking more about India with pride, love and compassion. The book has tons of references of other works by great authors which will build your reading list.
Despite that fact that Mr. Tharoor has written 19 books, only this one is available in audible. Wish to listen to more of his books in his voice.

Crash course in India during the time of Raj!

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