Entrepreneurship in the Age of Empire: Colonialism, Collaboration and Exploitation

This book explores the India and Eastern Trading Company Limited, a London-registered company established in 1906 to finance a jute plantation in Assam, India. It analyzes the company's international management and its connections with a multinational cast of merchants, promoters, mining engineers, politicians, and industrialists, revealing the complex web of relationships that shaped the company and the broader socio-political and economic environment of the late-Victorian period to the interwar.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 31 December 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate web of politics and commerce during a pivotal era in British history, shedding light on the remarkable story of the India and Eastern Trading Company Limited. Established in 1906, the company was formed with the sole purpose of financing a jute plantation in Assam, northeast India. As the late-Victorian period transitioned into the interwar era, a significant shift occurred in the commercial landscape, marked by the rise of speculative investment and the marketing of ideas. By examining the activities of this London-registered company and its international management, we gain a unique perspective on the broader socio-political and economic environment of this time.

The India and Eastern Trading Company Limited was a multinational conglomerate that brought together a diverse range of individuals, including merchants, company promoters, mining engineers, politicians, and industrialists. Through meticulous research, this book uncovers the intricate network of associations that formed between these individuals, creating a shared company that had a profound impact on British history.

By delving into the company's responses to the opportunities and challenges presented by colonialism, the book offers a fresh perspective on an important era in British history. It explores the interplay between enabling legislations, set-backs, competition, collaboration, internationalism, and rising nationalism, shedding light on the complex dynamics that shaped the empire.

The India and Eastern Trading Company Limited's story is not just about business; it is also a tale of intrigue and scandal. The company was involved in land speculation, often under the guise of colonial agriculture, and played a significant role in shaping British-empire prospects. The book delves into the complex web of German and Russian interests embedded within the company, exposing the murky underworld of imperialism that characterized this period.

The India and Eastern Trading Company Limited has been the subject of intense academic scrutiny throughout the twentieth century, and its legacy continues to be debated in the twenty-first century. This book provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex relationship between politics, commerce, and empire, offering a fresh perspective on a pivotal period in British history.

Weight: 512g
Dimension: 236 x 156 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367513542