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.

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.

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

- Late Victorian Holocausts is part of Mike Davis' broader examination of how imperialism and environmental factors intersect, exploring themes that also appear in his renowned book City of Quartz.
- Davis blends historical data with climate science, highlighting how global weather events in the late 19th century, particularly El Niño, coincided with periods of famine in colonized regions.
- The book is notable for its interdisciplinary approach, which combines elements of history, geography, and political economy to analyze the impacts of colonial policies on global destitution.

**Mike Davis**  
A Marxist urban and environmental historian and MacArthur Fellowship winner known for his critical examination of social inequality and political ecology. He authored influential works, including an analysis of Victorian-era drought-famines and their societal impacts.

**Robert Bulwar-Lytton (Lord Lytton)**  
The first Earl of Lytton, known for his role as British viceroy to India during severe drought and famine, where his strict laissez-faire policies led to widespread suffering. His tenure is marked by inadequate famine relief and involvement in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Mike Davis

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Late Victorian Holocausts Summary and Study Guide

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Late Victorian Holocausts Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Late Victorian Holocausts Part 1, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 4-6

Late Victorian Holocausts Part 2, Chapters 4-6 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 7-8

Late Victorian Holocausts Part 3, Chapters 7-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 4, Chapters 9-12

Late Victorian Holocausts Part 4, Chapters 9-12 Summary & Analysis

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Key Figures

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Themes

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Late Victorian Holocausts Index of Terms

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Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

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

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