{"product_id":"african-kingdom-of-gold-britain-the-asante-treasure","title":"African Kingdom of Gold Britain \u0026 the Asante Treasure","description":"\u003cb\u003eEmpire. Plunder. Resistance.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eThe forgotten history of Britain and the Asante gold.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e'A compelling, challenging and important book.' William Boyd\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e 1874. Kumasi, the Asante capital, burns. British soldiers prowl the palace, looting as much gold as they can find, before razing it to the ground. In Britain the soldiers are feted as heroes. In 1896 they return, looting the palace a second time and carrying off more gold to London in triumph.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Royalty, aristocracy and London's most illustrious museums divide the spoils. 'It is scarcely possible to do justice to the variety and beauty of these specimens,' \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e declares. There are golden masks, swooping eagles and an exquisitely wrought ram's head. One \u003ci\u003empomponsou\u003c\/i\u003e - a ceremonial sword - comes wrapped in a leopard skin sheath.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Tracing the course of Britain's wars with the Asante alongside the course of its plundered relics, Barnaby Phillips weaves a thrilling and poignant tale of imperial ambition and African resistance. Travelling from the Gold Coast to the museum galleries, officers' mess rooms and aristocratic homes of Britain, \u003ci\u003eThe African Kingdom of Gold\u003c\/i\u003e confronts us with urgent questions about the legacy of Empire and, in particular, how our museums should respond.","brand":"Unity Books","offers":[{"title":"African Kingdom of Gold Britain \u0026 the Asante Treasure","offer_id":46166116860101,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0625\/6679\/3413\/files\/978-1-83643-133-6.jpg?v=1777673799","url":"https:\/\/unitybooks.myshopify.com\/products\/african-kingdom-of-gold-britain-the-asante-treasure","provider":"Unity Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}