The Company's Island: St. Helena, Company Colonies and the Colonial Endeavour

The Company's Island provides the first extended account of the role of company colonies and the difficulties they faced in meeting the requirements of the Crown whilst simultaneously attempting to run a harmonious and successful community. Focusing on the island of St Helena and the colony which sprung from the presence of the East India Company there, Stephen Royle charts the growth of a society from scratch and explores the tensions which ensued - between soldiers and settlers, whites and blacks, company interests and the interests of the Crown.  A rebellion by the civilian population, a mutiny in the garrison and a political assassination tell only part of the island's history as a company colony. 

Drawing on a wealth of archival material, this book sheds new light on an important yet little known aspect of the colonial endeavour. The result is a vivid and compelling tale involving issues of race, morality, gender, trade and war within the context of Empire which will appeal to historians and geographers and to all those with an interest in colonialism, travel, trade and globalisation.