What historical sources did you draw upon while sketching out characters like Shah Alam, Ghulam Qadir and Mahadaji Scindia? But it has been incredibly good timing, as far as I’m concerned. I mean, I very much plough my own furrow and don’t particularly choose which book to write on the basis of current trends, and as these books take at least three years, or sometimes six, it would be foolish if I did. I had no idea when I began this book six years ago in 2013, that (American politician, former academic) Elizabeth Warren will be going around on her campaign trail lecturing on this every time, about the power of the corporations. But, it’s also a more general story about the power of the corporation versus the power of the State.

One is the story that I have just described, of how a company conquered India. There are two stories really in this book. So, did you intend this to be a cautionary tale? One of the things I’m emphasising on in India, is the degree to which it was done, through the collaborations. The British always long to see the redeeming side of their empire, wanting, of course, to believe the best of their ancestors and so, I think it is very important to give it straight that this was about looting and not about building railways or any of the rest of it. When I have been touring this book around Britain, I have been emphasising the loot and plunder that the British don’t know. If you read critique in the British newspapers of the 18th century, everyone was appalled that a corporation run by a body of merchants out of a boardroom in the city of London was running, what was – after the Fall of America or the Independence of America – nominally, the most important British colony.

The anarchy east india company