Rhodes

“Rhodes” by J.G. Lockhart and the Hon. C.M. Woodhouse is a detailed biography of Cecil Rhodes, focusing on his political career, imperial ambitions, and personal complexities.

• Ambition & Empire: It chronicles Rhodes’ rise through the diamond trade, his political influence in the Cape Colony, and his dream of a British Africa.

• Colonial Expansion: The book explores his role in founding Rhodesia and the controversial Jameson Raid.

• Character Study: Lockhart and Woodhouse present Rhodes as both visionary and flawed—driven by power, yet capable of idealism.

• Legacy: They reflect on how Rhodes shaped British imperial history and left a lasting, contested legacy.

This biography is more sympathetic than some later accounts, offering insight into both his achievements and the darker sides of his empire-building.