The Practical Imperialist ─ Letters from a Danish Planter in German East Africa 1888-1906

Christian Lautherborn, in the words of editors Parpart (Dalhousie U., Canada) and Rostgaard (Aalborg U., Denmark), was "one of the many rather anonymous agents of imperial colonisation of Africa in the late 1800's and early 1900's." His letters, written from the point of view of a "practical imperialist" bent on introducing modern agricultural methods and producing goods for a profit, provide a first hand account of colonialism in Africa from a perspective different from that of the missionaries, adventurers, and colonial officers whose correspondences are found in greater abundance. Prior to presenting the letters, Parpart and Rostgaard provide a biographical portrait of Lautherborn and describe the general historical context of German East Africa that frame Lautherborn's writings. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Marianne Rostgaard, Ph.D. (1991) is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University, Denmark. She has mainly published on Danish 19th and 20th century social and cultural history.Jane L. Parpart is Professor of International Development Studies, History and Gender Studies at Dalhousie University and visiting professor in politics at Stellenbosch.