Adventurers: The Improbable Rise of the East India Company Book

Discover a captivating historical narrative that traces the unlikely beginnings of one of Britain's greatest commercial powers. Adventurers: The Improbable Rise of the East India Company is a richly told hardcover edition for history lovers, gift buyers, teachers, and readers who enjoy vivid storytelling paired with rigorous research. This book brings the Tudor-era merchants and their high-stakes overseas bets to life, making complex economic change accessible and engaging.

Title in this Set: Adventurers: The Improbable Rise of the East India Company
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780300250725

David Howarth guides readers through the transformation from small-scale Tudor trade to the sweeping commercial success of the East India Company. Instead of a dry institutional history, Howarth offers a human-centered narrative: leaky ships, daring seafarers, and the “adventurers” who risked fortunes on distant voyages. This book is ideal for anyone searching for a well-written paperback edition alternative in their library or a standout hardcover gift for a historian or collector.

What you’ll find inside

Howarth reconstructs the Company’s rise through detailed stories and fresh insights. The text illuminates how Tudor commercial revolution—new investments, joint ventures, and speculative capital—created fertile ground for overseas enterprises. Readers gain a clear sense of the people, decisions, and misadventures that shaped Britain’s commercial empire.

About the author

David Howarth brings authenticity and authority to this work. A Cambridge graduate and former BBC war correspondent, Howarth served in the Navy and the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II and helped establish the Shetland Bus operation. His background in reporting and wartime operations gives his history a compelling, on-the-ground perspective trusted by readers and educators alike.

Features & benefits

• Engaging narrative style: Reads like a series of linked adventures rather than a dry textbook—perfect for bedtime reading or classroom discussion.
• Hardcover durability: A handsome, long-lasting addition to any bookshelf or history collection.
• Insightful context: Explains economic and social shifts in Tudor England that made the Company possible.
• Use cases: Great for history classes, book clubs, gift-giving, or as a reference for research projects.

This edition is an excellent choice for parents, teachers, and gift buyers looking for a trustworthy, well-written account of early British commerce. Adventurers provides both narrative excitement and scholarly grounding—making it an ideal present or resource and a timeless keepsake for anyone fascinated by the origins of global trade.