Empire Without End: A New History of Britain and the Caribbean

by Imaobong Umoren

After five long centuries, the roots of colonialism still run deep. This is a powerful new reckoning with Britain’s imperial legacy, its transformative effects on Britain and the Caribbean and its enduring role in systemic racism today. And it is a call for us all to learn from the challenges and failures of history and to play our part in creating a blueprint for the future. We cannot change the past. But we can repair the present.

From the 1500s to the mid-twentieth century, the events that took place in the Caribbean – from conquest, colonisation and capitalism to racial slavery, revolution and migration – and the people who forged them played a seminal role in creating modern Britain and the Anglophone Caribbean. By the 1960s, Western global empires had begun to crumble. Yet the British Empire in the Caribbean did not end. Instead, colonialism was replaced with a new type of power whose impact can still be felt: neo-colonialism.

Empire Without End offers a new interpretation of the British Empire, its enduring entanglement with the Anglophone Caribbean and the longevity of systemic racism. Taking a longer historical perspective starting in the period of European contact with the Caribbean and ending today, Imaobong Umoren looks at the impact and legacies of racial slavery to explore how later linked histories relating to capitalism, class, labour, war, political economy, poverty, gender and culture are crucial to telling the full story. In doing so, she sets out a compelling strategy to define our roles and responsibilities in challenging the legacy of colonialism and hierarchy – a legacy that continues to blight our society and our politics.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Audiobook

512 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2025

Reviews

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores the history and impact of Great Britain’s Caribbean colonization and slavery. I was more interested in the history than I was in the many, many examples of how racism persists. Frankly, if people don’t recognize that by now, they never will. But if you want details, this book is for you.

“…the legacies of hereditary racial slavery not only lingered long after its official end, but have financially implicated millions of people, in this case, indirectly and for many, unknowingly.” Until 2015, Great Britain was still paying off the debt incurred in 1833 to pay reparations to slave owners. So all British taxpayers were paying part of that debt. Including descendants of the formerly enslaved. At the same time, an apprenticeship system was created. The formerly enslaved not only did not get reparations, but as apprentices they were required to work without pay for 45 hours a week. Beyond those hours, they were to receive pay. The apprenticeship period lasted from 4 to 6 years. Some found their treatment even harsher than it was before. irony?

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Miles Row · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably good introduction but not sure what makes it a new history as a lot of stuff I had come across before.

[Jifu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaobong Umoren has crafted a top notch history here. Meatily informative, in-depth, exposes a topic that genuinely has never crossed my mind on my own before - and on top of that, it's also presented in an incredibly readable format. I know that when it comes to writing histories on any topic, it's quite a tightrope act trying to find the fine line being approachable and informative. It's all too easy to end up being too shallow by leaning towards the former, or becoming too dense by leaning too hard into the latter. Umoren however pulls off that balance fantastically - although there was so much to impart, it was all presented so digestibly. I fell into it immediately, and was happily absorbed for most of a weekend.

Empire without End is an all-around great experience for those with any interest in the Caribbean, the British Empire, and most of all, those who just enjoy a great history book.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book too a lot of time for me. I really needed to be thoughtful in my reading and really digest the information, but I would highly recommend it to anyone. I thought it was especially timely this year with the hurricane devastation to Jamaica; I thought a lot about the state in which British imperialism has left the Caribbean. And while the book is about the Caribbean and Britain, the same legacy left by imperialism and slavery has to be understood to truly comprehend the history and culture of the United States. Again, I highly recommend it to anyone.

[gaverne Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the history we have all been historically waiting for! Read it and learn about the history of the world we all live in.