The World's Cane Sugar Industry

The book, "The World's Cane Sugar Industry" by H.C. Prinsen Geerligs, tells the history of cane sugar from its ancient origins to the early twentieth century. During this time, the sugar industry underwent many changes, including wars, piracy, conquest, and social change. Geerligs provides detailed country-by-country studies of the state of the industry in 1912, which provides a fascinating portrait of industrial and commercial history.

H. C. Prinsen Geerligs (b.1864) was a Dutch microbiologist and Director of the Sugar Experiment Station in Java, an important research centre at the heart of the sugar industry. A leading expert in the production of sugar and the workings of the international market, Geerligs presents a detailed and comprehensive history of the industry, from its ancient origins through to the early twentieth century. Developing into a global industry during a time of great turbulence, the story of sugar interweaves with the history of slavery and colonial expansion, and into an age where science revolutionised production methods. As well as detailing the survival and growth of the industry through wars, piracy, conquest and social change, this book includes detailed country-by-country studies of the state of the industry in 1912 when the book was first published. A fascinating portrait of industrial and commercial history from an expert eyewitness.