Negotiating Relief and Freedom: Responses to Disaster in the British Caribbean, 1812-1907

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Oscar Webber

Negotiating Relief and Freedom

Responses to Disaster in the British Caribbean, 1812-1907

Oscar Webber

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Paperback

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English

Manchester University Press
20 January 2026

Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900; Colonialism & imperialism; Aid & relief programmes; Natural disasters

Series: Studies in Imperialism

Negotiating relief and freedom is an investigation of short- and long-term responses to disaster in the British Caribbean colonies during the 'long' nineteenth century.

It explores how colonial environmental degradation made their inhabitants both more vulnerable to and expanded the impact of natural phenomena such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. It shows that British approaches to disaster 'relief' prioritised colonial control and 'fiscal prudence' ahead of the relief of the relief of suffering. In turn, that this pattern played out continuously in the long nineteenth century is a reminder that in the Caribbean the transition from slavery to waged labour was not a clean one. Times of crisis brought racial and social tensions to the fore and freedoms once granted, were often quickly curtailed.

By: Oscar Webber
Imprint: Manchester University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 11mm
Weight: 292g
ISBN: 9781526194862
ISBN 10: 1526194864
Series: Studies in Imperialism
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Oscar Webber has been previously temporarily employed at the University of Leeds, The London School of Economics and has held a research fellowship at the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of London

Reviews for Negotiating Relief and Freedom: Responses to Disaster in the British Caribbean, 1812-1907

Negotiating relief and freedom provides a thorough and rich study. Webber introduces a more profound concern with the political, economic, and social dimensions of rebuilding society in the wake of disaster. —Rasmus Christensen, New West Indian Guide -- .