Abstract

This fascinating book, based on extensive archival research in Britain and India, examines why mutineer-rebels chose to attack prisons and release prisoners, discusses the impact of the destruction of the jails on British penal policy in mainland India, considers the relationship between India and its penal settlements in Southeast Asia, re-examines Britain’s decision to settle the Andaman Islands as a penal colony in 1858 and re-evaluates the experiences of mutineer-rebel convicts there. This book makes an important contribution to histories of the mutiny-rebellion, British colonial South Asia, British expansion in the Indian Ocean and incarceration and transportation.

This fascinating book, based on extensive archival research in Britain and India, examines why mutineer-rebels chose to attack prisons and release prisoners, discusses the impact of the destruction of the jails on British penal policy in mainland India, considers the relationship between India and its penal settlements in Southeast Asia, re-examines Britain’s decision to settle the Andaman Islands as a penal colony in 1858, and re-evaluates the experiences of mutineer-rebel convicts there. As such this book makes an important contribution to histories of the mutiny-rebellion, British colonial South Asia, British expansion in the Indian Ocean and incarceration and transportation. Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the mutiny-rebellion, this book will be of interest to academics and students researching the history of colonial India, the history of empire and expansion and the history of imprisonment and incarceration.

'…Yields fascinating insights into the lived experiences of individuals all too often silenced by history and in so doing makes an invaluable contribution to the historiography of colonial India.' —Douglas M Peers, Professor of History, University of Calgary

'Anderson makes a highly significant contribution to the understanding of subaltern lives and to the histories of residence and repression.' —David Arnold, Professor of History, University of Warwick

'Scholars and general readers attentive to comparative colonial history, particularly concerning the relationship between the state and the colonized, as well as those engaged with the history of India, will find much rich material, perceptive analysis, and theoretical sophistication in this volume.' —Michael H. Fisher, ‘Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History’

'This carefully researched book fills a major gap in the historiography of colonial India.'  —Sumit Guha, Professor of History, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Clare Anderson is Senior Lecturer in the School of Historical Studies, University of Leicester.