This enthralling book is the first to uncover the story of New York City merchants who engaged in forbidden trade with the enemy before and during the Seven Years’ War (also known as the French and Indian War). Ignoring British prohibitions designed to end North America’s wartime trade with the French; New York’s merchant elite conducted a thriving business in the French West Indies; insisting that their behavior was protected by long practice and British commercial law. But the government in London viewed it as treachery; and its subsequent efforts to discipline North American commerce inflamed the colonists.Through fast-moving events and unforgettable characters; historian Thomas M. Truxes brings eighteenth-century New York and the Atlantic world to life. There are spies; street riots; exotic settings; informers; courtroom dramas; interdictions on the high seas; ruthless businessmen; political intrigues; and more. The author traces each phase of the city’s trade with the enemy and details the frustrations that affected both British officials and independent-minded New Yorkers. The first book to focus on New York City during the Seven Years’ War; Defying Empire reveals the important role the city played in hastening the colonies’ march toward revolution.
#1742879 in Books 2008-11-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.80 x .80 x 5.00l; .70 #File Name: 0300143354224 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. About the BlitzBy goodfruitDisappointing; this subject held so much potential but is so pedantic as to be almost un-readable. There is no fault here with the research or the information; just with how its written up and presented.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. cultural history of a military eventBy ConcordThis book goes beyond other histories of the Blitz that I have read. It is essentially a history of how the British people--well; Londoners really--reacted to the first massive bombing raid of the Blitz that targeted the city of London. As such; we don't get up in the air with the RAF and the Luftwaffe; but instead see how the people on the receiving end dealt with--successfully or less bravely--a massive case of terror bombing.The book; therefore; raises interesting questions about the ability of any terror campaign to successfully cow a broad population. The events of September 2001 are not far from Stansky's mind here; and I think his conclusions are persuasive and relevent to today. In the end; I think that the author strikes a sound balance between heroic narratives that have previously suggested that Londoners reacted with universal aplumb and the more recent suggestions that all of that was patriotic twaddle and that the "real" story was of cowardice and looting. Londoners here come through as real people; with understandable reactions.One more point. Finally; someone has suggested to me a plausible answer to why Britain turned to Labour and ousted Churchill in the 1945 elections. Stansky's answer is too subtle for me to give fully here; but for me that was the real kicker of the book: the Blitz essentially made people realize both the worth of all classes of people and also the need for a central government to manage affairs correctly and smoothly. Yes; there are parallels there to hurricane Katrina; and Stanky talks briefly about them. A really good; quick read.
