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Empire Building Rosie Llewellyn-Jones

Empire Building By Rosie Llewellyn-Jones

Empire Building by Rosie Llewellyn-Jones


$31.99
Condition - Very Good
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Empire Building Summary

Empire Building: The Construction of British India, 1690-1860 by Rosie Llewellyn-Jones

'Empire Building' is a new account of the East India Company's impact on India, focussing on how it changed the sub-continent's built environment in the context of defence, urbanisation, and infrastructural development. Rosie Llewellyn-Jones examines these initiatives through a lens of 'political building' (using Indian contractors and labourers). Railways, docks, municipal buildings, freemasons' lodges, hotels, race-courses, barracks, cemeteries, statues, canals--everything the British erected made a political statement, even if unconsciously; hence this book is concerned less with architectural styles, more with subtle infiltration into the minds of those who saw and used these structures. It assesses, in turn, Indian responses to the changing landscape. Indians often reacted favourably to new manufacturing technologies from Britain, like minting and gunpowder, while the British learnt from and adapted local methods. From military engineers and cartography to imported raw metals and steam power, Llewellyn-Jones considers the social and environmental changes wrought by colonialism. This period was marked by a shift from formerly private, Indian-controlled functions, like education, entertainment, trading and healing, to British public institutions like universities, theatres, chambers of commerce and hospitals.

Empire Building Reviews

'Brick by brick, stone by stone, from canals to cantonments, Llewellyn-Jones masterfully reconstructs the infrastructure of empire in India. An engaging insight into a neglected area of imperial scholarship.' -- John Zubrzycki, author of The House of Jaipur
'Highly readable, full of overlooked detail, Llewellyn-Jones brings British India to life.' -- Roderick Matthews, author of Peace, Poverty and Betrayal: A New History of British India
'Offbeat and absorbing, this connects the politics, technology and aesthetics of state architecture of colonial India. With a fascinating series of studies of state buildings and superb illustrations, Llewellyn-Jones shows how the built environment of the Raj reflected the regime's view of itself and the culture of the people it ruled over.' -- Tirthankar Roy, Professor of Economic History, London School of Economics, and author of The Economic History of Colonialism
'A highly ambitious book linking art, architecture and engineering with education, scientific innovation and social history. An entertaining, well-researched and original contribution to current literature. I can think of no current competition which covers as much ground.' -- Caroline Keen, author of A Judge in Madras: Sir Sidney Wadsworth and the Indian Civil Service, 1913-47
'Political architecture is one of the lasting legacies of the British in South Asia. Bringing in the role of oft-forgotten engineers, architects and the Indian response to such changes, Llewellyn-Jones weaves together an engaging narrative of the construction of the visual and built environment in South Asia.' -- Yaqoob Khan Bangash, Director, Centre for Governance and Policy, ITU Lahore, and author of A Princely Affair: Accession and Integration of the Princely States of Pakistan

About Rosie Llewellyn-Jones

Rosie Llewellyn-Jones PhD holds a degree in Urdu from SOAS University of London. A renowned historian of colonial India, she is Editor of Chowkidar, the journal of the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia. Her books include 'The Last King in India', also published by Hurst, and 'Lucknow 1857'.

Additional information

GOR013901582
9781787388048
1787388042
Empire Building: The Construction of British India, 1690-1860 by Rosie Llewellyn-Jones
Used - Very Good
Hardback
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
2023-01-19
352
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Empire Building