About this Book

This magnificent book combines cultural, social, economic and political history in a quite remarkable way. Based on fascinating primary research in India, England and Scotland, it represents a new departure in the writing of imperial history. 'Jute and Empire' follows the intriguing story of the rivalry between Calcutta and Dundee from the 1830s to the 1950s as these two cities competed in the world jute trade. It uses this dramatic narrative to explore fresh ways of understanding the multi-faceted nature of the British Empire. Recent scholarship on British imperialism has been divided between economic analysis and cultural readings. 'Jute and Empire' pursues both strategies by integrating economic, political, social and cultural history in an ambitious effort to understand, through the window provided by jute, the interaction of Bengal and Scotland within the broader context of the British raj.