British Culture and the End of Empire (Studies in Imperialism) [Paperback]

Stuart Ward (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0719060486 | ISBN-13: 978-0719060489

The demise of the British Empire in the three decades following the Second World War is a theme that has been well traversed in studies of post-war British politics, economics and foreign relations. Yet there has been strikingly little attention to the question of how these dramatic changes in Britain's relationships with the wider world were reflected in British culture. This volume addresses this central issue, arguing that the social and cultural impact of decolonisation had as significant an effect on the imperial centre as on the colonial periphery. Far from being a matter of indifference or resigned acceptance as is often suggested, the fall of the British Empire came as a profound shock to the British national imagination, and resonated widely in British popular culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is a fine collection, which patiently unthreads one of the most persistent orthodoxies of British historiography - the belief that decolonisation was a process which happened only "overseas".' --Bill Schwarz, Goldsmiths' College, University of London

About the Author

Stuart Ward is Lecturer in History at the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King's College London. He also holds a lectureship at the University of Southern Denmark

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Manchester University Press (March 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719060486
• ISBN-13: 978-0719060489
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,891,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Course from Empire, November 17, 2005

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Lee Ellen - See all my reviews

This review is from: British Culture and the End of Empire (Studies in Imperialism) (Paperback)

British Culture and the End of Empire is full of intriguing and informative essays that cope with the legacy of the British Empire. The names of some of the contributors - Peter Hansen, Shompa Lahiri, or Hsu-Ming Teo, for example - promise a range of voices from around the globe, and the essays do not disappoint. Topics range from travel to film to cricket, and they analyze in depth their given topics within the context of British decolonization. Likewise, the point of view varies from pride in the British Empire to opprobrium over its aftermath. In this book, British heroes from bygone eras find themselves posthumously featured in films, and modern explorers seek to emulate their forefathers by finding exotic lands untainted by Western Civilization. The essays have a serious tone, and may seem a bit dry at times, but they provide valuable insights into the recent decades of British consciousness.