Review of Dr. Leo De Souza's Book -No Place for Me

[Mervyn Maciel]

My friend, Stephen Luscombe ,has just reviewed this book

which is now on the British Empire site - a link to which I

append below.

  I am most grateful to Stephen for producing this excellent review.

Mervyn Maciel

https://www.britishempire.co.uk/library/noplaceforme.htm

[Mervyn Maciel]

Some addressees have been having problems opening the link

I sent earlier.  If you have had problems, please try the

link below.

Mervyn Maciel

www.britishempire.co.uk/library/noplaceforme.htm

[Sandra Lobo]

Seems a rather eurocentric review, proBritish, proColonial review. Perhaps we should have an Indian/Goan or East African review it. 

"A policy by the British or any country that has invaded another country, giving them the right to enslave and exploit people through military, political and economic coercion.” The fact that it is given as a statement of fact is a little disconcerting. "

Disconcerting but true!

Sandra Lobo (USA)

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[Delia Maria]

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From darkness to light...go forth and prosper. Upanishad
 

[Jeanne Hromnik]

I fully agree ... this review should have been written from the perspective of the colonised rather than the coloniser. But it is posted, after all, on a proudly British Empire site.

I was particularly struck by this sentence: "Indeed colonial policy was merely the policies implemented by the colonial government whether good, bad or indifferent."

 People like Luscombe are good and honorable enactors of wrongful and unjust policies. In the same vein, Sir Evelyn Baring, although higher up in the colonial hierarchy and thus able to alter policy, is seen as good and honorable (Baring once saved an Asian child from drowning) although his implementation of colonial policies in respect of the Mau Mau uprising make one long to push a hot egg up his posterior, May he rest in peace.

Likewise, Luscombe's review.

xxj

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[Mervyn Maciel]

While I respect the views of both Sandra and Jeanne, I would like to state

that Stephen Luscombe is no 'colonialist'.  For most of his life he has

been a teacher who worked in Japan for many years.

   Just to prove that he is not 'tainted' by the evil deeds of colonialism,

I would like to quote a short extract from his review of my second book -

"From Mtoto to Mzee". This was in regard to a speech I delivered in

Oxford to a group of former colonial officials and their wives.:

"There is one more hidden gem for historians in this book in the section on the Kenya Administration Club in the UK. On the face of it, a club of ex-Kenya government employees might sound of interest to those who lived and worked in the service but of little consequence to anyone else. However, I was intrigued by his explanation of how attitudes to race and government service persisted even into the post-colonial world. This form of discrimination did not seem to fall until surprisingly late and I urge you to read his reply to a speech by a former British High Commissioner to Kenya, Sir John Johnson on the occasion of ex-Asian employees finally being admitted to the Club as late as 2002! It does make for fascinating reading and puts Asian colonial government service into an intriguing perspective and it brings the fight for equality of esteem if not of terms of service right up to the 21st Century."

While I agree that it would be nice to see a review by a Goan, and I hope someone

will come forward, I would just like to quote another comment from an ex-Kenya Indian:

"Thank you very much for posting this review from the Britishempire.co.uk Library site.

The panelled text didn`t state the name of the reviewer but then scrolling up this thread I found that it is by your friend Stephen Luscombe.  Well full marks to him for giving us a fascinating insight into the book and its reach into African history both before European colonisation and then during colonial rule leading to the post-independence phase as it impacted on the author`s life and trajectory.  "

Mervyn Maciel

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[Mervyn Maciel]

I quote below, an extract from Dr. Leo's nephew in a message to me regarding

Stephen Luscombe's review of his Uncle's book:

"Dear Mervyn,

I was pleasantly surprised with the detail of Stephen Luscombe’s review and enjoyed reading it!

A similar but smaller Kirkus review would cost around $400. Big thanks to you and Stephen!!

I have no issues with the two mistakes Stephen called out – it reinforces the integrity of his overall review.

It is our (Louella, Susan and me) responsibility to accept any criticism, validate it and if valid, use it as an opportunity to improve."

Mervyn Maciel

[Braz Menezes]

Dear Mervyn, I have been following this correspondence on an off, as I am a bit preoccupied just now. I agree completely with you about the integrity of Stephen Luscombe’s reviews. He is an excellent writer, a knowledgeable individual on various aspects of colonial history, and the pros and cons of The British Empire.

His reviews are balanced and not patronizing. 

I don’t believe that a review by an ex-East African resident or an Indian will in any way enhance or discredit Dr. Leo’s work.

An author must write what he wants. A reviewer can give his/her opinions. If someone is still dissatisfied, it is incumbent on them to read the book themselves.

BTW, I have requested Stephen, and he has agreed, to write the Foreword to my next (and final book) in the Matata Series, entitled ‘The Money Eaters of Tsavo’, which I hope will see the light of day later this year.

Braz Menezes, Toronto 

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