This is CBSI in the World with Peter Frankapan, professor at global history at Oxford University.

The new book is The Earth Transformed. We come to 1870 to 1920, modern enough for us to recognize the products, but at the same time, rubber following cotton,

rubber trees. The other products of cocoa and tobacco have been commonplace for several

hundred years. However, we now look for nitrates for fertilizer. These are all English novels,

and so I was jotting down the professor provided Lord Jim for the nitrates of guano, Lord Jim, by Conrad.

But he also mentions whale oil, and I jot it in Herman Melville.

And, Professor, I mentioned to you that I, in anticipation of my conversation with you about your book, I went to the

sign of four, the second of the Sherlock Holmes stories, about a theft of diamonds and rubies

from a Maharaja in India. This is following the so-called mutiny of the mid-19th century. And it is surprising to

read Conan Doyle's interpretation of the world from the Thames' point of view, from Herschelah

Kams's point of view, considering what you explicate in your presentation is how the British Empire

exploited and disdained and what at this point you'd have

to say damaged the cultures of so many peoples and it was all in keeping with the power of the

empire in 1870. This was also true in the United States. It's also true in many European countries.

Is there a new appreciation for this now, Professor?

Is something happened?

Because I don't remember this in my 20th century education.

That's a lovely question.

John, I'm enjoying myself so much.

I can feel, as we're heading towards the late 19th century,

the tristess of a conversation sort of coming

towards the twilight. So I'd love to drag this out for hours. But I suspect your listeners

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