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52 pages 1 hour read

Mike Davis

Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World

Mike DavisNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2000

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Book Brief

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Mike Davis

Late Victorian Holocausts

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2000
Book Details
Pages

464

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Global • Late 19th Century

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Late Victorian Holocausts by Mike Davis explores how El Niño-induced droughts in the late 19th century led to devastating famines in India, China, and Brazil due to imperial policies that prioritized capitalist accumulation and exploitation. He argues that Western colonial administrations exacerbated these natural disasters by dismantling local subsistence economies and imposing punitive relief requirements. The book discusses unsettling historical events, including genocide, starvation, and cannibalism.

Dark

Informative

Melancholic

Unnerving

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.4

2,093 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Mike Davis's Late Victorian Holocausts is praised for its meticulous research and compelling argument linking colonialism and climate with historical famines. Critics commend its interdisciplinary approach but note its dense academic style may challenge general readers and debate its absolute stance on imperial culpability. Fascinating yet demanding.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Late Victorian Holocausts?

A reader who would enjoy Late Victorian Holocausts by Mike Davis is likely interested in global history, social justice, and analysis of colonialism's impact. This book appeals to fans of Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond and The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, as it combines historical narrative with critical socio-political commentary.

4.4

2,093 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

464

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Global • Late 19th Century

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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