British Imperialism

2.6 billion people are inhabitants of former British colonies. The empire's influence upon the quarter of the planet it occupied, and its gravitational influence upon the world outside it, has been profound: from the spread of Christianity by missionaries to nearly 1 in 3 driving on the left side of the road, and even shaping the origins of international law. Yet Britain's idea of its imperial history and the world's experience of it are two very different things.

What on earth has PG Wodehouse, the creator of the Inimitable Jeeves and the hapless Bertie Wooster, got to do with a serious topic like the decline and fall of the British Empire? The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is Quite a Lot. The British Empire depended on splendid show and display, but...

The Napoleonic Wars radically altered the old, established European power dynamics, and in 1795, the British, now emerging as the globe’s naval superpower, assumed control of the Cape as part of the spoils of war. In doing so, they recognized the enormous strategic value of the Cape as global shipping routes were developing and expanding. Possession passed back and forth once or twice, but more or less from that point onward, the British established their presence at the Cape, which they held until the unification of South Africa in 1910.

A strong emotional attachment to the memory of empire runs deep in British culture. In recent years, that memory has become a battleground in a long-drawn ideological war, inflecting debates on race, class, gender, culture, the UK’s future and its place in the world. This provocative and passionate book surveys the scene of the imperial memory wars in contemporary Britain, exploring how the myths that structure our views of empire came to be, and how they inform the present.

They built some of the first communal structures on the empire's frontiers. The empire's most powerful proconsuls sought entrance into their lodges. Their public rituals drew dense crowds from Montreal to Madras. The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons were quintessential builders of empire, argues Jessica Harland-Jacobs.

This riveting new history shows how having an empire and losing it has shaped modern Britain. Drawing on a mass of original research into the thoughts and feelings of the British people, pop culture, sport and media, Imperial Island tells a story of people on the move and of people trapped in the past, of the end of empire and the birth of multiculturalism, a chronicle of violence and a testament to togetherness. It is the story that best explains Britain today.

“Where are you from?” was the question hounding Hazel Carby as a girl in post-war London. One of the so-called brown babies of the Windrush generation, born to a Jamaican father and Welsh mother, Carby’s place in her home, her neighbourhood, and her country of birth was always in doubt.

Trace the dramatic rise and fall of a maritime empire that reshaped world history, global politics, and human destiny. Perfect for an educational commute, this sweeping historical narrative immerses you in the fierce European rivalries, commercial conquests, and industrial revolutions that...

Dive into the gripping world history of a small island that forged a global empire on trade and conquest. Perfect for focused studying or a long daily commute, this dramatic narrative moves far beyond dry academic dates. It transports you directly onto bustling European dockyards, lucrative...

Witness the fierce resistance and relentless global trade that defined the turbulent history of British imperialism. From the bustling harbors of Hong Kong to the battlefields of Bengal, this gripping narrative captures the brutal rise and violent retreat of colonial conquest. Perfect for an...

Experience the epic world history of how a fragile island forged the largest global empire ever known. Perfect for an educational commute, this thought-provoking journey traces the dramatic rise and fall of British imperialism. Witness the stunning transformation of a minor maritime kingdom into...

Uncover the fierce conflicts and staggering economic power that drove the rise and fall of British colonialism. Whether you want a thought-provoking narrative for your daily commute or an immersive educational listen, this epic history tracks how a small island kingdom conquered the globe...