Empire: The British Imperial Experience from 1765 to the Present Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Empire: The British Imperial Experience from 1765 to the Present Book

By the middle of the 18th century, writes English historian Denis Judd, the British empire extended around the world, so that truly, as the adage had it, the sun never set on it. Yet within years that empire began to unravel, beginning with the loss of the American colonies. (The colonies, Judd opines, were not as badly treated by the crown as they professed to have been). He examines the battles, stratagems, and intrigues that helped extend British rule so far afield, drawing into his account the contributions of the great men and women of imperial history as well as the not so great ones. The latter group, in Judd's view, misjudged the tides of popular sentiment and lost the crown many friends through violence and reaction. The historian closes his study with the election of Nelson Mandela to the presidency of South Africa, and with the arguable observation that the British did their best in governing their far-flung holdings. Read More

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  • Product Description

    In this impressive researched and always entertaining book, the esteemedBritish historian Denis Judd analyzes the imperial experience from theAmerican Revolution to the present day. He examined the ways in whichthe British Empire affected both rulers and ruled, and the roles ofsignificant personalities--from Queen Victoria to Nelson Mandela, CecilRhodes to Jomo Kenyatta, Joseph Chamberlain to Mahatma Ghandi.

    Whatwas so special about the "special relationship" between Britain and theUntied States? Did the maintance of the Empire artificially prolongBritain's Great POwer status? Did it encourage chauvinistic, evenracist, attitudes? Were subjects better off under their own elite andleaders than under British rule? In the end, what does the balance sheetof Empire look like?

    "This book is in many ways theculminating work of [Judd's] career, bringing together immenseerudition, genuine narrative gifts, and a capacity to pick outimportant details from a vast range of materials...Judd's narrativemethod is highly original."
    --Mark Falcoff, NationalReview

    "An encyclopedic bibliography, which will make this bookinvaluable for students as well as the general reader...Judd writes witha freshness and willingness to challenge historical convention thatmake this compelling reading."
    --Andrew Roberts, Sunday Times(London)

    "Written with great thoroughness and keenanalysis...[Empire] will become an indispensable one-volume sourcefor anyone concerned to know about the most important nondomesticinstitution created by the British during their existence as a singlenation."
    --John Keegan, Literary Review

  • 0465019544
  • 9780465019540
  • Denis Judd
  • 3 June 2003
  • Basic Books
  • Paperback (Book)
  • 544
  • Reprint
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