The Interest
How the British Establishment Resisted the Abolition of Slavery
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The Interest
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Narrated by:
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James MacCallum
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By:
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Michael Taylor
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING
A DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR
A riveting narrative history that shows for the first time how the campaign to end slavery divided Britain, convulsed its politics and was almost thwarted by some of the most powerful and famous figures of the era.
In 1807, Parliament outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire. But for the next 25 years more than 700,000 people remained enslaved, due to the immensely powerful pro-slavery group the 'West India Interest'.
This ground-breaking history discloses the extent to which the 'Interest' were supported by nearly every figure of the British establishment - fighting, not to abolish slavery, but to maintain it for profit. Gripping and unflinching, The Interest is the long-overdue exposé of one of Britain's darkest, most turbulent times.
'A critical piece of history and a devastating exposé' Shashi Tharoor, author of Inglorious Empire
'Thoroughly researched and potent' David Lammy MP
'Essential reading' Simon Sebag Montefiore
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tim
- 03-06-21
Essential for anyone who is interested in British history
Absolutely essential history for anyone who wants it. It’s got stuff about Canning I wasn’t taught for a level.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Trevor Francois
- 04-02-21
scintilating
A Fascinating read from beginning to end, beautifully narrated.The end of slavery clearly illustrated and the major players revealed.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Ciran Sean Stapleton
- 28-10-21
stunning in its breadth
Coherently structured with a readily listenable narrative, - excellent. it's perhaps the sheer extent of the involvement of the hierarchy interest in keeping slavery, resisting abolitionist movements and protecting its own ifimamcial holdings from the very top that's laid to bare and so overwhelming. An important backdrop to anyone who refutes the legacy of slavery today.
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2 people found this helpful
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- fxyd
- 06-04-21
A panacea in our current political times
This book should be on the national
Curriculum. As a Black English person or Caribbean origin, I will be sharing this book with members of my own family. It is well written and thought provoking. I felt quite transformed and renewed by the end of it. In recent weeks I have despaired at the state of our political climate but I can now see that there is still much to strive for.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Frank Amin
- 16-09-22
The twisted history of abolition
Finally, the full history of the abolition movement is told. The opponents to it are revealed as powerful figures intertwined with the establishment.
The moral religious and financial aspects of the movement and the resistance to it are explained as is the impact of slave revolts in the Caribbean and internal politics in Britain. The book features key examples of the barbarity of the slave trade and slave holding, while also discussing key aspects of slave rebellions.
In a detailed assessment of the abolition movement the financial interests that formed the opposition to It are discussed at length.
The book concludes with a compelling assessment of the movement for reparations not just in a moral sense but in a practical sense.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jo
- 13-12-20
Listen to this
Excellent! A real eye opener. We all need to become aware of this history and challenge those who have obscured it from us.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Mr john mulcair
- 29-10-21
Should be part of the national curriculum
Very informative.
Why were we not taught about slavery at school?
A must read, gripping.
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2 people found this helpful