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sophronisba's review
2.0
Rothschild's idea has a lot of potential: trace a family's involvement with the early British empire. How did imperialism impact their fortunes and their relationships? The family in question, the Johnstones, seems to have a rich history, offering plenty of primary sources and involvement with two interesting court cases -- one in which a slave sues for his freedom and another in which a slave is accused of murdering her newborn. But Rothschild does not make as much as she could of her material. Her account of the Johnstones' family history is dry, often devolving into a simple recitation of facts; and there is little analysis or investigation of the court cases beyond their basics. By the end of the book I felt no closer to understanding the lives and minds of the Johnstones than I did when I began it.
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