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British History's Biggest Fibs

A

avole

The wise never post on Internet forums
Just finished watching this.

Did any other fishies see the show? I'd be interested to hear people's opinions, as I've been out of the British history scene for quite a few years now, having studied both SE Asian and Pacific history, so am not really up to date with the differing interpretations of our history, let alone current historians. To be truthful, I'd only vaguely heard of Lucy Worsley, the presenter, and this is the first time I've seen one of her shows.
 
avole said:
Just finished watching this.

Did any other fishies see the show? I'd be interested to hear people's opinions, as I've been out of the British history scene for quite a few years now, having studied both SE Asian and Pacific history, so am not really up to date with the differing interpretations of our history, let alone current historians. To be truthful, I'd only vaguely heard of Lucy Worsley, the presenter, and this is the first time I've seen one of her shows.
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We love Lucy in our family. She is a specialist on the Tudors and Elizabethans but is one of the finest documentary presenters out there. Did not see this program but have been watching her similar program on American historical inaccuracies.
 
I think Lucy Worsley is excellent. See also her series on the Tsars of Russia (all on YouTube).

The chapter on the British in India was especially interesting, as I'd just finished reading this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1849048088/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

Somewhat of a polemic, but it presents an entirely different view of the British in India i.e. that the British, rather than being the great civilising influence that they liked to think they were, robbed the place blind and used India's wealth to make themselves prosperous.
 
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tones said:
it presents an entirely different view of the British in India i.e. that the British, rather than being the great civilising influence that they liked to think they were, robbed the place blind and used India's wealth to make themselves prosperous.
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Fairly sure everyone pretty much concurs with the latter?
 
tones said:
...The chapter on the British in India was especially interesting, as I'd just finished reading this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1849048088/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

Somewhat of a polemic, but it presents an entirely different view of the British in India i.e. that the British, rather than being the great civilising influence that they liked to think they were, robbed the place blind and used India's wealth to make themselves prosperous.
Click to expand...

I haven’t seen the Empire, but thought this was well known and how the British in India, and they were were not alone, have been regarded for many years. That isn’t to say there were not positives, however, as my old prof would say, but, overall, the British period was one of exploitation. Later on, when the riches were gone and the UK government had to take over, things did change, but there are many question marks about that period, too.
 
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richgilb said:
Fairly sure everyone pretty much concurs with the latter?
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Niall Ferguson doesn't:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0141007540/?tag=pinkfishmedia-20

On the contrary, he regards the Empire as A Good Thing (apart from a few minor blemishes). The book, it has to be said, is well written, well argued and quite persuasive, but the Tharoor book presents a necessary corrective.

I think this forum is unusual in that the folk who inhabit it are, in general, more literate, better informed and more profoundly thinking than average. There are a lot who aren't. You just have to look at the Brexit vote to see how many folk are missing the glories (real or imagined) of days gone by, and how Brexit will somehow restore them.
 
avole said:
I haven’t seen the Empire, but thought this was well known and how the British in India, and they were were not alone, have been regarded for many years. That isn’t to say there were not positives, however, as my old prof would say, but, overall, the British period was one of exploitation. Later on, when the riches were gone and the UK government had to take over, things did change, but there are many question marks about that period, too.
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Agree. Its about as obvious to Brits that it was bad as Hitler for Germans. And the Germans likely have more Hitler supporters now than UK has Empire supporters. I see AFD got 6 million votes, UKIP 500,000.

I wonder if Tones is English or what? Seems like an unnecessary dig at UK whatever.
 
I quite like Ms Worsley but I haven't watched this one yet. Does she mention any of the stuff we got up to in China? Destruction of the Summer Palace etc.
 
tones said:
Niall Ferguson doesn't:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0141007540/?tag=pinkfishmedia-20

On the contrary, he regards the Empire as A Good Thing (apart from a few minor blemishes). The book, it has to be said, is well written, well argued and quite persuasive, but the Tharoor book presents a necessary corrective.

I think this forum is unusual in that the folk who inhabit it are, in general, more literate, better informed and more profoundly thinking than average. There are a lot who aren't.
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Yeah ok, well there are polar views in every corner of the world. Unearth any stone, you will find subculture. I wonder what I would unearth if I started digging around in Switzerland / Northern Ireland. When I quickly find the far-right anti-immigration, protectionist party or well-known advocate of, I am hardly likely to use it to bounce off 'an entirely different view'.
 
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