Edmond Smith
@edmond-smith.bsky.social
Historian of globalisation, capitalism and economic cultures | Professor at The University of Manchester | Director of the Centre for Economic Cultures
Pinned
Ruthless by Edmond Smith — the brutal rise of Britain’s industrial power
The historian’s splendid account sets out the ideas, inventions and relentless exploitation that drove the nation’s growth from 1660-1800
www.ft.com
Thrilled to see Ruthless reviewed in the FT by Linda Colley, and to be placed among the FT's books of the week too! 😊
www.ft.com/content/67c1...
www.ft.com/content/67c1...
Thrilled to see Ruthless reviewed in the FT by Linda Colley, and to be placed among the FT's books of the week too! 😊
www.ft.com/content/67c1...
www.ft.com/content/67c1...
Ruthless by Edmond Smith — the brutal rise of Britain’s industrial power
The historian’s splendid account sets out the ideas, inventions and relentless exploitation that drove the nation’s growth from 1660-1800
www.ft.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Thrilled to see Ruthless reviewed in the FT by Linda Colley, and to be placed among the FT's books of the week too! 😊
www.ft.com/content/67c1...
www.ft.com/content/67c1...
Reposted by Edmond Smith
‘Al could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2
percentage points’
Well that’s the best chart of the year in this @johnthornhill.bsky.social column and basically sums up where we are
on.ft.com/4qMMkJd
percentage points’
Well that’s the best chart of the year in this @johnthornhill.bsky.social column and basically sums up where we are
on.ft.com/4qMMkJd
November 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
‘Al could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2
percentage points’
Well that’s the best chart of the year in this @johnthornhill.bsky.social column and basically sums up where we are
on.ft.com/4qMMkJd
percentage points’
Well that’s the best chart of the year in this @johnthornhill.bsky.social column and basically sums up where we are
on.ft.com/4qMMkJd
Reposted by Edmond Smith
Last evening was truly special, meeting with dear friends and colleagues to celebrate the launch of @edmond-smith.bsky.social new book, ‘Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power’
November 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Last evening was truly special, meeting with dear friends and colleagues to celebrate the launch of @edmond-smith.bsky.social new book, ‘Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power’
Reposted by Edmond Smith
Excited to be launching @edmond-smith.bsky.social’s wonderful RUTHLESS (@yalebooks.bsky.social) in @dauntbooks.bsky.social! 🥂
Get your copy here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... #SkyStorians
Get your copy here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... #SkyStorians
November 6, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Excited to be launching @edmond-smith.bsky.social’s wonderful RUTHLESS (@yalebooks.bsky.social) in @dauntbooks.bsky.social! 🥂
Get your copy here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... #SkyStorians
Get your copy here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... #SkyStorians
I’m excited and humbled that my new book Ruthless is finally out in the world 🎉
It explores how exploitation, innovation, and empire shaped the birth of the Britain's industrial revolution.
📖 It’s out now (and £12.50 this month in Yale's November sale): yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
It explores how exploitation, innovation, and empire shaped the birth of the Britain's industrial revolution.
📖 It’s out now (and £12.50 this month in Yale's November sale): yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
November 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I’m excited and humbled that my new book Ruthless is finally out in the world 🎉
It explores how exploitation, innovation, and empire shaped the birth of the Britain's industrial revolution.
📖 It’s out now (and £12.50 this month in Yale's November sale): yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
It explores how exploitation, innovation, and empire shaped the birth of the Britain's industrial revolution.
📖 It’s out now (and £12.50 this month in Yale's November sale): yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
I had a great time speaking with Miranda Melcher @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social about by new book #Ruthless. The podcast is available here: newbooksnetwork.com/ruthless
Edmond Smith, "Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power, 1660-1800" (Yale UP, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I had a great time speaking with Miranda Melcher @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social about by new book #Ruthless. The podcast is available here: newbooksnetwork.com/ruthless
Reposted by Edmond Smith
Join @edmond-smith.bsky.social and Jake Richards discussing their books Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power, 1660-1800 and The Bonds of Freedom: Liberated Africans and the End of the Slave Trade
6.30pm, 11th Nov, Waterstones Gower Street
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
6.30pm, 11th Nov, Waterstones Gower Street
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
Ruthless & Bonds of Freedom: An evening with Edmond Smith and Jake Subryan Richards | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Ruthless & Bonds of Freedom: An evening with Edmond Smith and Jake Subryan Richards to...
www.waterstones.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Join @edmond-smith.bsky.social and Jake Richards discussing their books Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power, 1660-1800 and The Bonds of Freedom: Liberated Africans and the End of the Slave Trade
6.30pm, 11th Nov, Waterstones Gower Street
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
6.30pm, 11th Nov, Waterstones Gower Street
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
Looking forward to spending an evening with the brilliant Jake Subryan Richards on 11 November at Waterstones on Gower Street to talk about our new books!
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
Ruthless & Bonds of Freedom: An evening with Edmond Smith and Jake Subryan Richards | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Ruthless & Bonds of Freedom: An evening with Edmond Smith and Jake Subryan Richards to...
www.waterstones.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Looking forward to spending an evening with the brilliant Jake Subryan Richards on 11 November at Waterstones on Gower Street to talk about our new books!
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
www.waterstones.com/events/ruthl...
I'm hosting a celebration to launch my new book #Ruthless on 6 November at Daunt Books on Cheapside. There are still some spaces left and if anyone would like an invite please drop me a message and I will add you to the guest list!
Wine, books and history - what better way to spend an evening!
Wine, books and history - what better way to spend an evening!
October 16, 2025 at 10:13 AM
I'm hosting a celebration to launch my new book #Ruthless on 6 November at Daunt Books on Cheapside. There are still some spaces left and if anyone would like an invite please drop me a message and I will add you to the guest list!
Wine, books and history - what better way to spend an evening!
Wine, books and history - what better way to spend an evening!
"This is a must read for anyone interested in the birth of the modern economy."
Who am I to disagree with that!
Thank you @unseenhistories.com for the recommendation 👍
Who am I to disagree with that!
Thank you @unseenhistories.com for the recommendation 👍
From the Caspian Sea to Burma, the Regency to U Boats; our history book picks for the month ahead. With new books from
@theprofrog.bsky.social
@lmbd1418.bsky.social
@highamnews.bsky.social
@andrewrsorkin.bsky.social
@fourredshoes.bsky.social
@edmond-smith.bsky.social
@rory-stewart.bsky.social👇
@theprofrog.bsky.social
@lmbd1418.bsky.social
@highamnews.bsky.social
@andrewrsorkin.bsky.social
@fourredshoes.bsky.social
@edmond-smith.bsky.social
@rory-stewart.bsky.social👇
New History Books for October 2025 - Unseen Histories
Our picks of a range of vibrant new history books that will be released over the month ahead.
www.unseenhistories.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:41 PM
"This is a must read for anyone interested in the birth of the modern economy."
Who am I to disagree with that!
Thank you @unseenhistories.com for the recommendation 👍
Who am I to disagree with that!
Thank you @unseenhistories.com for the recommendation 👍
Reposted by Edmond Smith
Day 1 of the visit (Weds 17th) concludes with a guest lecture, at 5.30pm, at the Linklater Rooms, University of Aberdeen, by Prof. Matthew J. Smith (UCL), Director of the Centre for the Legacies of British Slavery.
Places to attend in person are available and all welcome bit.ly/3IjbMVj 2/2
Places to attend in person are available and all welcome bit.ly/3IjbMVj 2/2
Slavery, Big Data, and the Cultures of Caribbean Ancestral Histories
Royal Historical Society public lecture at the University of Aberdeen
bit.ly
September 17, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Day 1 of the visit (Weds 17th) concludes with a guest lecture, at 5.30pm, at the Linklater Rooms, University of Aberdeen, by Prof. Matthew J. Smith (UCL), Director of the Centre for the Legacies of British Slavery.
Places to attend in person are available and all welcome bit.ly/3IjbMVj 2/2
Places to attend in person are available and all welcome bit.ly/3IjbMVj 2/2
Thrilled to share early endorsements for #Ruthless!
Huge thanks to @sathnam.bsky.social, Emma Griffin, @antonhowes.bsky.social, William Pettigrew, and Nicholas Radburn for their generous words.
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
Huge thanks to @sathnam.bsky.social, Emma Griffin, @antonhowes.bsky.social, William Pettigrew, and Nicholas Radburn for their generous words.
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
September 4, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Thrilled to share early endorsements for #Ruthless!
Huge thanks to @sathnam.bsky.social, Emma Griffin, @antonhowes.bsky.social, William Pettigrew, and Nicholas Radburn for their generous words.
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
Huge thanks to @sathnam.bsky.social, Emma Griffin, @antonhowes.bsky.social, William Pettigrew, and Nicholas Radburn for their generous words.
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
Just a few days to go before the deadline - 25 August.
There's huge scope within the project to develop work related to trade, cross-cultural encounter and empire in the early modern world, in geographies stretching across Africa and Asia.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
There's huge scope within the project to develop work related to trade, cross-cultural encounter and empire in the early modern world, in geographies stretching across Africa and Asia.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Research Associate in Early Modern Global History:Oxford Road
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk
August 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Just a few days to go before the deadline - 25 August.
There's huge scope within the project to develop work related to trade, cross-cultural encounter and empire in the early modern world, in geographies stretching across Africa and Asia.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
There's huge scope within the project to develop work related to trade, cross-cultural encounter and empire in the early modern world, in geographies stretching across Africa and Asia.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Working in the John Rylands this week with a restored check-cotton sample book. These are two microscopic images of dyed and bleached cotton with origins in American plantations used in designs which were likely destined for African markets.
August 19, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Working in the John Rylands this week with a restored check-cotton sample book. These are two microscopic images of dyed and bleached cotton with origins in American plantations used in designs which were likely destined for African markets.
Reposted by Edmond Smith
Research Associate in Early Modern Global History, University of Manchester:
memorients.com/news/researc...
memorients.com/news/researc...
Research Associate in Early Modern Global History, University of Manchester | MEMOs
Uni of Manchester, Early Modern Global History
memorients.com
August 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Research Associate in Early Modern Global History, University of Manchester:
memorients.com/news/researc...
memorients.com/news/researc...
One of my RAs landed a permanent job in Madrid (which is awesome!) so I'm now advertising for a new one!
It's to work on my INTRECCI project on global histories of capitalism.
Please share with anyone interested and happy to answer questions.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
It's to work on my INTRECCI project on global histories of capitalism.
Please share with anyone interested and happy to answer questions.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Research Associate in Early Modern Global History:Oxford Road
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk
August 13, 2025 at 9:10 AM
One of my RAs landed a permanent job in Madrid (which is awesome!) so I'm now advertising for a new one!
It's to work on my INTRECCI project on global histories of capitalism.
Please share with anyone interested and happy to answer questions.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
It's to work on my INTRECCI project on global histories of capitalism.
Please share with anyone interested and happy to answer questions.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
It's always a great feeling to unpack author copies, but bittersweet for this book I "co-authored" with Richard Smith at the request of his widow after he sadly passed. Hopefully it will serve as a worthy finale and inspire students today as much as his work inspired me during my UG studies.
August 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
It's always a great feeling to unpack author copies, but bittersweet for this book I "co-authored" with Richard Smith at the request of his widow after he sadly passed. Hopefully it will serve as a worthy finale and inspire students today as much as his work inspired me during my UG studies.
Done my butterfly count for the year! Dunno if it's just weather or three years of building a pollinator paradise, but twice as many and four times as many varieties this year over 2024 🦋🐝
bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
August 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Done my butterfly count for the year! Dunno if it's just weather or three years of building a pollinator paradise, but twice as many and four times as many varieties this year over 2024 🦋🐝
bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
Very happy to see Desiree Baptiste's important work picked up by Reuters today.
www.reuters.com/world/uk/new...
www.reuters.com/world/uk/new...
New research adds to pressure on British monarchy over historical ties to slavery
New research shows that Britain's King George IV, who ruled for a decade until 1830, personally profited from enslaved labour on Grenadian plantations, a finding that experts say heightens pressure on the monarchy to confront its historical links to slavery.
www.reuters.com
August 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Very happy to see Desiree Baptiste's important work picked up by Reuters today.
www.reuters.com/world/uk/new...
www.reuters.com/world/uk/new...
We've had great opportunities to visit some incredible collections during the first year of the INTRECCI project. Safya Morshed has written up some thoughts about linking economic systems through material objects made and consumed across early modern Eurasia.
intrecci-project.org/understandin...
intrecci-project.org/understandin...
Understanding Global Exchange: A Route through Artefacts | INTRECCI
Linking economic systems through museum exhibitions at the V&A, Burrell Collection, Gulbenkian Collection and British Museum
intrecci-project.org
August 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
We've had great opportunities to visit some incredible collections during the first year of the INTRECCI project. Safya Morshed has written up some thoughts about linking economic systems through material objects made and consumed across early modern Eurasia.
intrecci-project.org/understandin...
intrecci-project.org/understandin...
Reposted by Edmond Smith
Want to read an “erudite, ambitious & richly global” book that “sets a new standard in economic history”? Then my forthcoming book #Economica is for you. If you’re in the UK, for tonight only you can get 25% off if you preorder @waterstones.bsky.social: www.waterstones.com/book/economi... #SUMMER25
Economica by Victoria Bateman | Waterstones
Buy Economica by Victoria Bateman from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Want to read an “erudite, ambitious & richly global” book that “sets a new standard in economic history”? Then my forthcoming book #Economica is for you. If you’re in the UK, for tonight only you can get 25% off if you preorder @waterstones.bsky.social: www.waterstones.com/book/economi... #SUMMER25
Reposted by Edmond Smith
CfP is out! Sign up, share, come visit, very excited about this. Let's get some great female case-studies!
July 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
CfP is out! Sign up, share, come visit, very excited about this. Let's get some great female case-studies!
Great to see coverage of work by some of Manchester's most engaged students in the Guardian today: www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...
For the full essays by Destinie Reynolds, Beth Carson, Moleka Newman, Aimee Eggington and Aashe Singh: www.royalexchange.co.uk/visit-eat-dr...
For the full essays by Destinie Reynolds, Beth Carson, Moleka Newman, Aimee Eggington and Aashe Singh: www.royalexchange.co.uk/visit-eat-dr...
Manchester’s Royal Exchange rooted in slavery and colonialism, research reveals
Links to enslavement, exploitation and opium make it ‘one of most important locations in history of global capitalism’
www.theguardian.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Great to see coverage of work by some of Manchester's most engaged students in the Guardian today: www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...
For the full essays by Destinie Reynolds, Beth Carson, Moleka Newman, Aimee Eggington and Aashe Singh: www.royalexchange.co.uk/visit-eat-dr...
For the full essays by Destinie Reynolds, Beth Carson, Moleka Newman, Aimee Eggington and Aashe Singh: www.royalexchange.co.uk/visit-eat-dr...
Reposted by Edmond Smith
That the incredible cognitive power of the human brain and body takes only 2000 calories a day to fuel, and occupies quite considerably less than the space of Manhattan, suggests there is something catastrophically wrong with the design of AI.
'Mark Zuckerberg proclaimed that Meta would spend hundreds of billions of dollars on developing artificial intelligence products in the near future and, to that end, construct a data center planned to be nearly the size of Manhattan.' 1/3
Zuckerberg says Meta will build data center the size of Manhattan in latest AI push
CEO says company plans to spend hundreds of billions on developing artificial intelligence products
www.theguardian.com
July 17, 2025 at 6:42 AM
That the incredible cognitive power of the human brain and body takes only 2000 calories a day to fuel, and occupies quite considerably less than the space of Manhattan, suggests there is something catastrophically wrong with the design of AI.