The Last Colony

Praise

“Compelling . . . Impressive . . . With the deftness of marquetry, Sands lays down the groundwork of international law and its evolution during the Cold War . . . One of the many merits of this intriguing account of how the case against Britain was finally brought to The Hague is its human focus . . . [Sands] has done the islanders proud.” —David Profumo, The Spectator

“A moving story of human tragedy and injustice with the complexities of international law to great effect. A neat work of detailed legal points and history, and a deeply felt narrative about the injustice of deportation and the dwindling number of Chagossians with strong ties to their homeland. Madame Elysé is an impressive, courageous figure and emblem, putting a human face on colonialism’s continuing wrongs, both for the International Court and this book. There is much to appreciate about this little-known story in Sands’s sensitive telling. A complex case of international law and a stirring tale of injustice and homecoming.” —Julia Kastner, Shelf Awareness

“A piercing account . . . Sands efficiently combines history, memoir, and astute legal analysis. A powerful testament to the lasting damage of imperialism.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sands relates the wider tragedy of the scandal with nerve and precision . . . A steely and forensic case, laced with human empathy . . . Important and welcome corrective.” —Tim Adams, The Observer

“A resounding history, thrilling as any novel.” —Amanda Hopkinson, The Jewish Chronicle

“A powerful and persuasive account . . . superb.” —Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature

“[S]urprisingly gripping narrative . . . [An] elegant, moving and profoundly informative book.” —Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

“A powerful and poignant book that should be read by anyone who cares about justice, humanity and human rights. Rarely does a book combine erudition and empathy so eloquently—it is stellar in every sense of the word.” —Elif Shafak, author of How to Stay Sane in the Age of Division

“Sands is a humane and generous presence . . . illuminating the experiences of ‘real people, real lives’ behind the bureaucracy of international law. Sands’ book is an urgent reminder that Britain’s colonial rule isn’t our past. It’s our present.” —Hannah Rose Woods, The New Statesman

“Powerful and elegantly written . . . Sands uses the story of one Chagossian woman to tell a broader story about colonialism and international human rights from the 20th century to today. An essential account of a continuing and little-known area of injustice.” —Tomiwa Owolade, The Sunday Times (London)