Ruling Passions: Sex, Race and Empire [Hardcover]

Anton Gill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 1995

Based on eye-witness accounts and personal memories of colonials and native people, and focusing mainly on India and Africa, this is a sexual and racial history of the British Empire; a history of mixed marriages and mistresses, of brothels and missionaries, and of memsahibs and concubines. Anton Gill argues that sex and race in the context of the Empire reveal much about the true nature of British imperialist ambitions, and that, from the first colonial outpost to the mid-20th century, sexual attitudes at home influenced the behaviour of the colonials abroad. Whether they were taking advantage of greater sexual freedom or trying to prevent any interaction with the local population, sex was, according to the author, a major issue for those who ruled the Empire.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: BBC Books (February 23, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563370912
• ISBN-13: 978-0563370918
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book and TV series., April 22, 2002

By 

anon2001 "anon2001" (Kinross, Western Australia AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ruling Passions: Sex, Race and Empire (Hardcover)

I saw the TV series, by accident, and picked up the book
very cheaply from Amazon partner Alibris. This is a rather
unusual and fascinating aspect of the Empire. There were
many personal stories told, all interesting, some sad. The
past really is another country. Real history as experienced
by real people can be far more interesting than fiction. I
only wish the book had been longer.