Ornamentalism - David Cannadine

The British Empire has generally been seen as a racist empire (most influentially in Edward Said's ORIENTALISM).
While not wholly denying this, Cannadine, in his funny, often horrifying new book, suggests a different dynamic.
The British were motivated not by race but by class - they loathed Indians or Africans no more or less than they loathed the great majority of Englishmen.
Imperialists were far more willing to work closely with maharajahs, kings and chiefs of whatever race than with 'sordid' white settlers.
The often farcical gap between these views and reality make ORNAMENTALISM both highly enjoyable and extremely provocative for anyone wishing to understand how the British Empire really worked.