This superbly written book examines the cultural evolution of the Jamaican people after the explosive uprising at Morant Bay in 1865. For the first time, the specific methods used by British imperial legislators to inculcate order, control and identity in the local society are described and analysed. The authors compellingly and convincingly demonstrate that Great Britain deliberately built a "new society in Jamaica founded on principles of Victorian Christian morality and British Imperial ideology." This resulted in a sustained attack on everything that was perceived to be of African origin and the glorification of Christian piety, Victorian mores, and a Eurocentric "idealized" family life and social hierarchies. This well-written and meticulously researched book will be invaluable for students of the period and those interested in Jamaican history and/or imperial history.
