Uncivilised Entertainments

My present reading is 'How to Murder a Man'
not long ago I enjoyed 'Confessions of a Thug',
both very readable books about life as it was
in the nineteenth century in The British Empire.

The former is set in Ireland, the latter set in India,
at roughly the same time. Both portray the natives
as dishonest in ways that do not flatter the empire
or make it seem as if it were a wholesome thing.

In both books/countries the economy works well
for the few, and badly for the many locals,
who are forced to bend and break the law
to make wealth work a lot better.

Through charm, threat, incantation
and secret planning men (it is always men)
sought 'the good life' where it could be found,
when with laws like those that contended with
the best life was often being dead and in the ground.

In their pursuit they made sure
that many other people got there.