The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire

The latest book from William Dalrymple takes a damning look at the British East India Company, the corporation set up in the early 17^th century with a monopoly on British trade with the east.  The company was the means by which Britain established control of India over the course of the 18^th century.  Dalrymple shows that this was not an enlightened project with one or two regrettable incidents, but an astonishingly brutal and rapacious adventure, backed by military force. An engaging and enlightening read.

Benedict King, Contributing Editor