Running the Show: Governors of the British Empire

by Stephanie Williams

Stephanie Williams's Running the Show is a brilliant look at the men and women of Empire. 'May God forgive us for our sorry deeds and for our glorious intentions' Who were the men governing the Empire in the nineteenth century? How were they chosen and controlled? Were they sane or mad? And why did they do it? From Fiji to the Falkland Islands, from Malaysia to Australia and South Africa, from Lagos to Ottawa, ordinary British men and women, with no training, were dispatched to strange places, among strange people and faced unimaginable conditions. Some started wars. Others fought disease, injustice and slavery. Many died or went mad. Running the Show, drawing on vast unpublished sources, reveals the day-today lives, griefs and triumphs of governors at the height of the British Empire as they struggled to make sense of their charges and, frequently, themselves. 'An amusing and lively book, stuffed full of anecdotes and interesting titbits' Amanda Foreman, New Statesman Stephanie Williams was born in Canada, the daughter of an army officer. Her mother was born in China, to an Englishman and a young Russian refugee who had escaped the brutality of the Bolshevik revolution. Stephanie grew up moving constantly across Canada, Europe and the United States, before taking a degree in history at Wellesley College, Massachusetts and becoming a London-based journalist. When perestroika came to Russia it was possible to begin to investigate the truth of her Russian grandmother's tumultuous past. Researching and writing Olga's Story took ten years.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

493 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2011

Reviews

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book and was difficult to put down. The book is a series of vignettes examining a British colony and the particular governor of that colony, and follows a rough chronological sequence. Over the course of 16 chapters, Williams describes the conditions in each colony and the personality of the governor and how he adapted (or didn’t) to the conditions of the colony. What distinguishes this book from a dry history and recitation of dates and events is the author’s writing style, which carries the reader almost effortlessly along. Another distinguishing aspect is that Williams vividly describes the colony through descriptions of weather, terrain, vegetation, insects, etc., in evocative language which never bores. She also examines each governor’s personality and background, as well as his family, and how these contributed to the governor’s success or failure in governing the colony. At the end of the book, one gets the strong impression that the Colonial Office was disorganized and hardly had a grasp on the men who worked for it and the conditions they labored under. Another aspect that I really liked about this book was the comprehensive bibliography, to include websites and electronic resources. I was truly sorry that the book ended. A very good book and a very enjoyable one to read.

[Geevee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads in parts like an adventure story covering areas of the British Empire as distant and far from home waters as from each other: Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the West Indies, Canada, South Africa and Australia and looming large throughout the book, Africa.

There are fascinating insights here of what is was like to live and act as the Crown's man in some far removed corner of the world. Through the diaries and letters of the lives of the Governors and their families you have a real feel for their personal thoughts and feelings, including the terrible loneliness or plain struggle for survival. It is also surprising how much officaldom expected or perhaps ignored the personal expenditure that the representatives need to outlay on Government duties.

I was struck by many of the Governors genuine wish to champion and protect the indigenous population from crime, corruption and slavery. The communications between the Colonial office and their govenors was regular (albeit slow) and at times very combative and often strained.

Among the pages you find truly gifted adminstrators and genuine adventurers who helped feed and save countless people from illness and disease. You will also read of sharp rogues and frankly hopeless high minded bureaucrats, or pleasant aristocrats, who cheated people or ensured ancient lands were sold and grazing rights removed.

It is a book that will reward your time as it is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read that tells you something of how Britain managed millions of people, and why the Empire is still today controversial but also why so many countries wish to be a part of the Commonwealth.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life of a governor of one of the British Empire's many, varied and far-flung colonial outposts was very far from easy, as this fascinating book illustrates. Quite apart from the obvious cultural divides, governors had to deal with tropical diseases, cold, heat, monsoons, droughts, famine, friction between natives of different races, creeds and castes, European merchants and planters, the British colonial administration, the military, and very often their own families. Some found themselves governing established and orderly administrations in the 'white' colonies, such as Australia and Canada, where luxury and decadence were the order of the day. Others found colonies that lacked almost any semblance of order or indeed what they might recognise as 'civilisation' - no towns or cities, no amenities, no railways, hospitals, schools, and few roads.

Life as a colonial governor could make or break not just a career but the very soul of a man. For some of the individuals examined in this book it was a chance to truly make a difference, whether in hindsight for good or evil; some rose to the challenge and some failed miserably, driven to the edge of madness. Most were men who by and large believed whole-heartedly in the good the Empire could do, men of a striking paternalistic attitude, some of whom built cities and civilisations from the ground up, and some who came very close to knocking a few down.

Williams rarely touches on the dark side of colonialism, and barring a few asides here and there, there is very little comment of the morality of the Empire itself. This book is not the place to find a damning commentary on western imperialism and empire-building. But it does shed a little light on the - I hesitate to use the phrase 'unsung heroes', since that is an immensely debatable and contentious issue - men who formed the backbone of the British Empire and made it what it was, for better or worse.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable and entertaining account of the men who governed the various colonies of Imperial Britain throughout the 19th and early 20th century.
The book covers diverse and remote colonies from Africa to Asia and Fiji and gives a detailed and insightful look into the attitudes and mindset of the men chosen to represent the British throne. Some were talented and respectful of local culture, while others were naïve and arrogantly dismissive of the 'natives'.
Organised chronologically and easy to read, this volume is recommended to anybody interested in how the British Empire was governed or those interested in the history of a bygone era.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two chapters read. So engrossed in the Intro and opening chapters that I found myself on the wrong train on the way to work! I must pay more attention to my surroundings - but difficult to do when a book grabs your imagination!

[Grim Tidings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleased with the focus of this book - I worried by focusing on governance specifically as a topic, this would not serve as the general whistlestop through Empire that I was hoping it would be, but Williams uses the stories of her chosen governors as a means to tell Empire's story and it is effective. As a means of viewing Empire through a somewhat digestible narrative, this book is perfect and I would recommend to anyone interested in the topic.

There must be about a dozen governors covered in this book, each with his own separate chapter. Some of them are more interesting than others - I loved in particular Flora Shaw and Lugard, and the Tennysons from whose chapters I could just detect Williams' passion for her subject. By the end of the book a decent sum of the Empire has been covered and seen - at least through the lens of these often unfortunate colonists. I wonder how Williams chose which governors to feature in her book; certainly while the concluding chapter speaks of the failures and evils of empire, from this book alone not much of it could be seen. The men we follow are broadly sympathetic in their aims, not the callous Flashman-type colonists who they may succeed. I would've liked to see the darker underbelly of Empire, covering the lives of those who we may not feel sympathy for, but I can see why they were not included. Broadly speaking the purpose of this account is to dig up forgotten names and remember them for the efforts they put into their cause.

If I could make one change I would've liked to see a chapter threading everything together back in London. We frequently see exchanges between governors and the foreign secretaries, civil servants, etc. back in Westminster but they remain the illusive figure behind everything. I would've liked to see how this element of imperial governance worked in practice too

[Mark Thuell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable book. Fascinating incites into colonial governors, the good, bad and ugly . Their upbringing, convictions and motivation are well covered.
I think the striking point is the haphazard development of the greatest empire the world has ever seen run by a small group of aristocrats and overseen by some brilliant men with their wives. Some awful decisions were made but also many good ones that ushered many underdeveloped regions into the modern world. Many of these man although flawed gave their lives for a greater good in their eyes.

[Sean Trengrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

INTERESTING ACCOUNT

A most interesting chronology of accounts of colonial governors' activities. Provides interesting perspectives of how Britain influenced far flung parts of its empire through men who generally 'did the right thing'.

[Nick Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and often surprising accounts of colonial governors and associated officials across the British Empire: their personal as well as professional triumphs, trials and tribulations. There were some fine people doing good things back in those days - as well as some less so...

[David Macnamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was a slog!

Interesting at points but also just A LOT!

Need something lighter to refind my joy!

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable book but not what it advertises itself as - by no stretch of the imagination is this an examination of the men who ran the British Empire - a few interesting stories about some interesting men but they aren't anything more then good stories - the men who ran the empire in reality were as varied as the empire itself - to pretend otherwise is ridiculous - and to imagine anything can learned about the British empire or those who ran it from this disparate collection is dishonest. The very top men - the governors - were often of far less important then the civil servants, or even the civilians, politicians, businessmen, army or naval personnel, missionaries when it came to creating the 'empire' as experienced by those wqho had no choice being its subjects. The colonies varied greatly - from Ireland and India who had Viceroys (oh yeah Ireland wasn't technically a colony but then everyone in British government in London knew that it was and ran it like it was) to colonies at times that were actually Businesses run by a charter from the government - Nigeria was one and so were other African territories (oh yeah India was one before the rebellion - which we insist on calling a Mutiny - can you really rebel against a company?) until the cost made take over necessary, then you had the 'White' colonies Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa (oh yeah how was South Africa white? by not counting the vast majority of its inhabitants) all had very different types of government and the importance, never mind the influence or effectiveness of the man at the top was so different that it is impossible to generalise.

The portraits of the individual in this book are good, the author writes well but it is not the book advertised on the title.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this surprisginly enjoyable. full of detail