'Harri Englund has produced a thoroughly researched and insightful book on the history of early colonial Malawi. He explores the inter-relationships between the church, the colonial state, the capitalist class, and the Africans. Revolving around the work of Rev. David Clement Scott, of the Church of Scotland Mission, readers will appreciate how the spread of Christianity, as well as the operations of the state were 'negotiated' processes involving the 'civilized' Europeans and the colonized Africans.' Paul C. Banda, Tarleton State University