# The Interest

Canonical: https://www.bookquiver.com/michael-john-taylor/the-interest/9781473566361

![The Interest](https://quivercdn.com/covers/vintage-digital/michael-john-taylor/the-interest_978-14-7356-636-1-b866fbb6.webp?v=2026-09-30%2004%3A12%3A28)

- Book: [The Interest](https://www.bookquiver.com/michael-john-taylor/the-interest) ([The Interest.md](https://www.bookquiver.com/michael-john-taylor/the-interest.md))
- Authors: [Michael John Taylor](https://www.bookquiver.com/michael-john-taylor)
- Publisher: vintage_digital
- Medium: ebook
- ISBN: 978-14-7356-636-1
- Published: 2020-11-05
- Language: en_GB
- Binding: E-book

## Description

Discover how the campaign to end slavery divided Britain and was almost thwarted by some of the most powerful and famous figures of the era. **SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING** In 1807, Parliament outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire. But for the next 25 years more than 700,000 people remained enslaved, due to the immensely powerful pro-slavery group the 'West India Interest'. This ground-breaking history discloses the extent to which the 'Interest' were supported by nearly every figure of the British establishment - fighting, not to abolish slavery, but to maintain it for profit. Gripping and unflinching, The Interest is the long-overdue exposé of one of Britain's darkest, most turbulent times. A DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Scintillating . . . compulsively readable' Guardian 'A magnificent book . . . riveting' Evening Standard 'A critical piece of history and a devastating exposé' Shashi Tharoor, author of Inglorious Empire 'Thoroughly researched and potent' David Lammy MP 'Essential reading' Simon Sebag Montefiore