The Oxford History of the British Empire: Volume IV: The Twentieth Century [Hardcover]

Judith M. Brown (Editor), Wm. Roger Louis (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198205643 | ISBN-13: 978-0198205647 | Publication Date: December 23, 1999

The fourth installment in this distinguished and unprecedented series brings us to the twentieth century. As with the other volumes, this book includes the work of leading scholars.

Here, readers confront the many facets of the imperial experience in the final century of the British Empire, above all the rapid processes of decolonization that began at mid-century. Volume IV attempts to understand the men who managed the empire, their priorities and visions as leaders, and the mechanisms of control which held the empire together. There are chapters on imperial centers of activity, on the geographical periphery of the empire, and on the entirety of its connecting mechanisms, including institutions and the flow of people, money, goods, and services. Contributors also explore the experiences of Britain's imperial subjects in culture, politics, and economics--those experiences which fostered the growth of vibrant, and often new, national identities and movements as well as--ultimately--new nation-states. It concludes with decolonization and the reshaping of the political map of the world.

About the Series:
The Oxford History of the British Empire is a major new assessment of the Empire in the light of recent scholarship and the progressive opening of historical records. It deals with the interaction of British and non-western societies from the Elizabethan era to the late twentieth century, provides a balanced treatment of the ruled as well as the rulers, and takes into account the significance of the Empire for the peoples of the British Isles. All five of the volumes in this series fully explore economic and social as well as political trends.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Magnificent...Taken together, these books constitute an extraordinary feat of organization and scholarship, and they provide the authoritative history of the British Empire for our generation, and the essential starting point of the re-writing of that history which will take place in the next generation. Opinions differ about the British Empire; there can be no disagreement about this superb history of it." --David Cannadine in The Times Literary Supplement

"The Oxford History of the British Empire will take many years to be digested. In the meantime, its five volumes will gather little dust on library shelves. Those fortunate enough to have these books in their own library will possess a valuable publication that recommends new approaches and raises new questions about one of the greatest cultural and technological transfers that has taken place in the world during the past half millennium." --The Historian

About the Author

Judith Brown is Beit Professor of Commonwealth History, and Fellow of Balliol College, at Oxford University. Wm. Roger Louis is Kerr Professor of English History and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 23, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198205643
• ISBN-13: 978-0198205647
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best overview of Empire in the 20th Century, October 8, 2007

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Lehigh History Student (Bethlehem, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Oxford History of the British Empire: Volume IV: The Twentieth Century (Paperback)

The Oxford History of the British Empire edited by WM Roger Louis is an excellent compilation of top scholarship related to all aspects of the British Empire. Various authors contributed well written chapters to create an understanding of the Empire by century. Volume four is an understanding of the twentieth century and looks at the fall of the empire. The Empires performance in World War 1 and 2 are assessed in the first half and the myth of the unified empire is explored. The British Empire in World War 2 was able to harness the power of all the countries to move as a unified force but the myth of British invincibility was shattered. The promises of freedom that the allies fought for was transformed into a reality as the Dominions and Commonwealth argued for independence after the war. Some areas were granted independence very quickly after the war and British trusteeship proved unable to combat the flaring ethnic and racial tensions appearing around the world. In Asia the myth of British invincibility was destroyed by the fall of Singapore and proved that Britain as a paper tiger in the east. The empire went into severe decline with the Suez Crises and Britain's miscalculations of their position as a world power. The book does an excellent job of tying together a wide range of sources and giving a great perspective on the British Empire as a whole. It covers the areas of the globe relevant to the Empire and is very focused on the information presented. If you want to learn about any aspect of the Empire in the 20th century this is a great place to start.