The Honourable Company: A History of the English East India Company

I found the subject interesting, because it showed the evolution of a commercial enterprise into economic imperialism. The book also includes helpful maps.

However, I find fault in the presentation because it did not include a better analysis of the effects of the trade patterns and technology on the Company's business over time. Instead, the book was written more in the "name dropper" school of history. Almost as many questions arise from reading the book as were answered.

For example, vast sums were being made on voyages. What did a pound sterling buy? Were the amounts quoted in the book of current value or then value? What were the characteristics of the frigates and Indiamen plying the eastern trade routes? Charts showing tonnage overtime and sailing's would have been appreciated.

This book unsuccessfully attempts to many views of the Company at once. Unfortunately, it does it by listing hundreds of names. The policies of Clive and Hastings get almost as many words as an often widowed factor's daughter. I might recommend this book as a supplement to readers interested in economic history, but not as a primary source.


The embryonic basis of the English Speaking Empire - PERIOD.   September 18, 1998
chasgray@compuserve.com (London, England . . . where else?)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This book beautifully reveals the nucleus of all that is present day England, and illustrates the basis of the English Empire and the export of that philosophy to the USA. In short, this book exposes the foundations of modern day Anglo-Saxon economic imperialism. This is where it ALL started. From here you can go on to the books by Peter C Newman about the Hudson Bay Company, and more close to home, and equally fascinating, a whole series of books about the Great Game and Central Asia by Peter Hopkirk. From there..."Empires of the Monsoon" is great reading as is Younghusband and Rice's Burton. From here you have a great series of books to read - but start with Keay's masterpiece. You'll say - why havent I heard of this before. . . . .


Historical writing at its best!   August 7, 2000
Paul Doherty (Harpenden, Herts United Kingdom)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

To condense the history of the East India Company into one book is no mean feat. To manage to do so in such an entertaining package is a remarkable achievement. The narrative reads like an adventure story and grips the reader from the opening pages. The author vividly captures the atmosphere of the various locations and brings the characters of the "Honourable Company" and its merchant warriors to life. I read this book on holiday on the west coast of France. The sun was shining, the beach beckoned and the surf was up. Sometimes even they had to wait.


Comment for researchers   May 9, 1997
This is one of the few books on the East India Company that devotes attention to what the author refers to as the Company's "Dark Ages," the early decades of the 18th century when the foundations for the "achievements" of men like Clive were being laid


Good book   April 4, 1997
A good book describing the ascendence of the British in the East Indies and specifically India. The author suggests that the British colonial conquests in Asia were not a result of a 2 century long plan but a result of policy mishaps and strategic positioning against the Dutch and then the French during 17th, 18th and the first quarter of the 19th centuries. The story of the main protagonist - a bungling group of shareholders and directors - is very well woven into the political backgroun