The Honourable Company

This one is a nice book which brought out facts which were previously unknown to me like the Company's first settlements (including the point where the Empire might have started), its ups and downs and its trade and conflicts through the time of 1600-1757 and the struggle of the Company to maintain its independence from the British government. It also threw more light on already known matters like the formation of cities like Madras, Bombay, Calcutta, Singapore and Hong Kong, the Company's dealings with other Indian powers, its rivalry with its French counterpart, the ambitious and greedy Clive as well as the enigmatic Hastings and the China trade. However the writing of the author seemed really ambiguous when depicting the so called 'Black Hole' incident. He does not categorically confirms or denies that it took place, only pointing to the substantial publicity skills of Holwell. The author ends the timeline at 1820 for which his logic is that this is the point where the Company completely ceased to exist as a separate entity and became a mere arm of the British government.

If you like history and commerce this is your book. It goes into great details explaining the history and ensuing success of the BEIC.

Excellent book ... the history of the East India Company is covered in extreme detail .... well written :)

A must read.Would have helped though if a timeline thread was maintained. Meanders.

I always wished to know how India was colonized by British. This book provides the activities of The English East India Company in India, China and East Indies. The book provides good information about the initial voyages of the company and establishment of trading centers in East Indies. It clearly describes how the company was able to put its monopoly trade in India by defeating its rivals like French, Dutch and Portuguese. Initially the company faced a series of setbacks after it was defeated in Malay peninsula for the hegemony in spice trade but retaliated by acquiring territories in India. The political rivalry between British Parliament and The Company is given in detail. However the book does not speak about the liquidation of the Company by British Crown after The Mutiny of 1857. In fact no account is given how the company's territory in India was taken by British Crown. Also the Anglo- Mysore wars are not given in detail.Overall the book is good to read and John Keay gives a wonderful account how British East India dominated the world trade by winning series of wars and conquests.

Good book to know about east indian company

Service by Amazon is 5 stars but considering the price of the book the quality of the paper used is very cheap and fonts are so small that it gets very difficult to read such book

Good