The Brutish Empire: Four Centuries of Colonial Atrocities

by Des Ekin

From the horrendous massacre at Amritsar to the slaughter of the native population in the Zulu Wars, master chronicler Des Ekin takes us on an eye-opening journey through the modus operandi of the British Empire. He tells of the killing of the entire population of Tasmania, often for sport; the Famine in Ireland, now widely recognised as genocide; the deliberate infection of Native Americans with smallpox; the Opium Wars, in which the Chinese were forced to accept the trade in Indian opium, which destroyed millions of lives; concentration camps in Kenya; and on and on … The Empire on which the sun never set was truly a force of darkness all across the world.

And why did they commit all of these horrors? Ekin explores the pseudo-science of eugenics and theories of 'martial races' and religious destiny, all ways of dehumanising other people and rationalising their abuse, exploitation and slaughter.

Ekin wears his thorough research very lightly, and these tales of depravity and blood lust are told with a remarkable lightness of touch and welcome dashes of humour.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

416 pages, Paperback

Published December 14, 2024

About the author

Des Ekin is an Assistant Editor with The Sunday World. As well as researching investigative news articles, he writes a popular column that reaches more than a million readers every weekend. He was born in County Down, Northern Ireland and spent a decade reporting on Troubles in Northern Ireland before moving to Dublin, where he now lives with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Stacey Mckeogh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because this is formatted as a A-Z a points it felt a little disjointed but overall this is a really well written, non-biased, honest look at British colonial atrocities and Irish involvement in a lot of these.
As there is so much involved in this book at times i was left wanting a little more on certain subjects but it gives a really strong basis in historical events, linking things in together to give a good overall picture.

[Jonathon Hagger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent summarisation of the travesties indicated in the innocent and unknowing by the British Empire. It’s in no way an exhaustive account of the atrocities but an excellent starting point for those wanting to learn.

[Michele Neylon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not an easy read but a really excellent book on a very important topic

[Godowd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to find out the truth about the British Empire and not the schoolwork version.

I had read a good number of books around this subject, and this book has pointed me in a few new directions.

I might have liked a chapter on how Empites in general are pretty brutal and claim to have delivered lots of imaginary benefits .. maybe the next book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, the author doesn't hold back in the detail and description of everything that went on and all of the atrocities committed by the British Empire. I had a good idea of what had happened in Ireland but less aware of what went on in other countries around the world. It's both intriguing and heartbreaking and has some first person descriptions of what went on at the time. Can't recommend the book enough, each chapter was informative and interesting and I couldn't put it down.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of the brutalities of the British Empire, from the conquest and rule of India, to the Irish Famine and right up to Boer war and including a far less flattering account of British involvement in slavery than is often heard. Unfortunately, Irish soldiers in the British army feature all too prominently.

[Colm Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking historical read on the tyranny inflicted on native population under the rule of the British empire.