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We Need to Talk About the British Empire

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We Need to Talk About the British Empire

By: Afua Hirsch
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About this listen

Making sense of the British Empire's legacy... through the stories of people who lived through it.

Through six intimate conversations with a new generation of writers and historians - journalist Afua Hirsch tries to break through old cliches, and unpick the true legacy of this complicated and difficult inheritance.

She speaks to leading figures in British culture today - from poet Benjamin Zephaniah to actress Diana Rigg, broadcaster Anita Rani to novelist Nadifa Mohamed - discovering vivid family stories of the people who made the Empire what it was. And she hears how its ripples continue to shape our lives, and sense of collective identity today: our attitudes and cultural values, the multicultural, multiracial population of the British Isles today, and the relationships that Britain has with other parts of the world.

A Somethin’ Else Production.

This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 6 episodes to your Library now.

©2019 Audible, Ltd. (P)2019 Audible, Ltd. Colonialism & Post-Colonialism Europe Great Britain Politics & Government World
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Outstanding podcast. Fascinating stories and a huge eye opener to the realities of empire. 5 stars.

Essential podcast for British people

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Gives a different perspective on the Empire in a way that is personal, engaging and non threatening.

Very engaging

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I loved the honesty of this first chapter I look forward to listening to the other chapters.

I hope one day people realise empire affected everyone

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Such a great look at the empire and the challenges it left in its wake, some good some bad. It’s a honest look back with some great presenters.

Insightful

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An incredible delve into aspects of the empire that are just not talked about. I feel all the better for knowing this stuff now. Thank you, Afua.

Everyone needs to listen to this

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This is really powerful, hard-hitting writing and interviewing. Hirsch makes it clear that it is not about Empire-bashing, but of opening up untold stories from the British Empire and examining it from a more diverse perspective so that it becomes everyone’s history of Empire and not just the domain of a section of British society. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Powerful and hard hitting.

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This insight into the continuing impact of the British empire is centered around the personal stories of contributors. It’s a great way in to a large subject, and is giving me a sense of where I can go to learn more and where the gaps in my knowledge are.

It’s accessible, but it doesn’t skirt around the unpleasant facts of our colonial legacy. Which apparently some reviewers find a little difficult to come to terms with.

A story led way into important part of history

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I really enjoyed this series. I read a lot of history - and studied history- but I learned a lot. It’s the history you don’t usually come across, told in a straightforward, balanced way with lots of personal stories which bring it to life. Do listen!

Brilliant balanced history

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Some of the reviews on here are scary in their racism and ignorance. Wow.
“Most colonies would have been ruled by someone else if not us. We ended slavery.” Seriously??? WTF?

Britain created slavery and is responsible for some serious atrocities and wilful annihilation of local culture. Penal laws, atrocities and conflict that lasts to this day in Ireland, including causing the not-actually-a-famine famine - just one example.

Blaming indigenous people and this superior, arrogant attitude that somehow countries are better off having been colonised has got to stop. Hong Kong was taken over because of its successful port and intelligent people in Britain’s quest to drug China.

This podcast is the first step at opening eyes and hopefully creating some humility and understanding. If this was properly taught at school there would be far less ignorance and racism in this country.

Much needed wake up call

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Every episode was incredibly insightful and offers another view point of looking at the British Empire. Thank you so much for your hard work. Every negative comment is just another testament of why we need to talk about the BE! :) Good job and please make more.

What an amazing series! Wished there were more episodes!

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