«Spellbinding... vital and important. A wonderful read» PETER FRANKOPAN
«Outstanding... escapes the naive, balanced view of the Empire and sees its full complexity» SATHNAM SANGHERA
«Exceptional... his command of detail is indisputable» DOMINIC SANDBROOK, Sunday Times
«Extraordinary... [brings] the world of a century ago to vivid and clear life» ALEX VON TUNZELMANN
THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AT ITS GREATEST EXTENT
On Saturday, September 29, 1923, the Mandate for Palestine became law and the British Empire covered an incredible expanse of the world's land, encompassing 460 million people. It was the largest empire the world had ever seen, but it faced debts and doubts. This book is a fresh approach to the history of the British Empire, focusing on specific individuals and stories of the period, drawn from newspapers, letters, diaries, official documents, magazines, films, and novels: from an isolated island in the Pacific to Australia, Burma, India, and Kenya, to London and the West Indies.
Some aspects of the issues from a century ago remain relevant today: the debates around cultural and ethnic identity in a globalized world, the management of multiethnic political entities, racism, religion's divisive contribution for political purposes, and the dangers of ignorance. What remains extraordinary is the Empire's ability to reveal the most captivating human stories. Never before has there been a book which includes such a wide range of vivid experiences from colonists and the colonized: from grand rulers to humble immigrants, policemen, and nurses.
Pages: 608, Year of Publication: 0109, Dimensions: 15.8x15.8cm
