Description
Legacy of Violence: A History of the British Empire by Caroline Elkins is a meticulously researched work of history examining the use of violence and coercion in the British Empire during the twentieth century. Drawing on more than a decade of research across four continents, including newly declassified archival material, Elkins investigates how detention camps, torture and the concealment of abuses formed part of Britain’s efforts to maintain imperial control.
Focusing on events in places such as Kenya and Malaya, she traces patterns of repression across different colonies and challenges accounts that treat these abuses as isolated incidents. Her research explores the institutions, policies and official narratives that enabled imperial violence, as well as the efforts to hide its extent from public view.
Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize, Legacy of Violence offers a detailed account of the human cost of British imperial rule and examines its lasting significance for debates about colonial history, accountability and historical memory. It is a valuable read for anyone interested in the British Empire, modern history and the legacies of colonialism.
