Legacy of Violence is truly an incredible piece of work. The amount of research that Caroline Elkins put into this project is just mind boggling and so very interesting. As they say, history is written by the victors. Well, Elkins makes sure the experiences of those steamrolled by the British Empire on its road to "glory" are heard in painful yet necessary detail.

Detailing the "legalized violence" which the British deployed from Ireland to India, Kenya to Jamaica, and so many more, Elkins paints the picture of an empire which embraced its racism and hatred of the "other." Worse yet, Elkins' research serves as a witness to the historical records which the British government actively sought to hide and/or destroy before they could see the light of day. Though many know the British Empire through the likes of Bridgerton and The Crown, which certainly paint a rosy color, the reality through much of the empire is that martial law was deployed frequently and brutally.

While this could certainly have been an erudite and unapproachable manuscript, it is surprisingly accessible. Though this work is certainly hard to read, I recommend it highly.

My only complaint is that given the size and depth of this book, I don't believe reviewing a DRC did it justice. I have admittedly struggled with this book for weeks simply because of the format and would love to see this in printed form in order to truly give an honest review. This is truly a book that should be read in its physical form.- preferably with a highlighter and notepad in hand. At nearly 900 pages, there's so much to take in doing so via electronic medium just doesn't do the work justice.

Though the British Empire has been looked at several ways, it is recently undergoing a reappraisal. Between Dalyrample's The Anarchy, and Elkin's Legacy of Violence, readers will see the British Empire as a tool of terror and exploitation, rather than something to bring civilization to far off places.

This book was so well researched and effective that I had to stop reading it at times, due to the unimaginable violence. Good job, England!