Product Description

A second edition of the text originally published in 1973. This title is the first volume in the triptych by the same author, depicting the rise and decline of the British Empire and it centres on the period between Queen Victoria's accession in 1837, and her Diamond Jubilee of 1897.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #79304 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Customer Reviews

An exciting picture of how the British Empire was made.
The British Empire at one time encompassed a quarter of the globe, from countries as immense and diverse as India to ones as tiny as Tristan da Cunha. Jan Morris has the rare skill of not only painting the large canvas of history, but also of illuminating for her readers the daily life of distant quarters of the Victorian empire. She writes with warmth and affection of Zulus and Maoris, of Quebecois and Boers, of explorers suffering terrible ordeals, of be-whiskered colonial politicians in London and dear old Queen Victoria herself. She writes with a pleasing absence of political correctness, seeing the Empire not only in the currently fashionable way as an instrument of exploitation, but also as a power for good. She introduces us to colonialists dedicated to the welfare of their subjects, as well as those out to feather their own nests. And the texture of the book is typical Jan Morris - crafted in such a way that you at last understand what it was all about, and why it happened.

Superbly anecdotal
For someone who never got to study the British empire at school (far too politically incorrect and besides, I was more interested in 20th century stuff), this is a superb introduction to the subject. Probably not rigourous enough for anyone who knows anything, Jan Morris uses a sequence of anecdotes and vibrant case studies to track the rise and rise of the Empire, without ever giving in to being triumphalist or one sided. You'll have to excuse me now; I'm off to read the next book in the series!

History comes alive.
The great thing about Jan Morris is that she brings so many different qualities to her books. Nostalgia, humour, insight, and wonderful storytelling, all of which are present in abundance in this marvelous account of the Genesis of that most remarkable of Empires. It was an Empire that was cruel, repressive, civilising, gracious and compassionate depending on which subject of the Crown was dispensing the rules to the natives. Being a native of one of the former colonies (Ireland) I am all too familiar with the negative aspects of the Empire. Our famine is at once an epic tragedy and also an indictment of the British Empires lack of compassion. On the other hand when you read this book you cannot but admire the great energy and sacrifice of so many loyal British subjects who lived their lives many miles from their native shores and their families in the belief that they were not only doing their duty for queen and country, but also in the belief that they were genuinely bettering the lives of those around them, primarily by spreading Christianity and Civilisation. I think what Jan Morris succeeds in doing is illustrating the futility of trying to sum up the Empire. It has too many sides to it, some good, some bad, but always so very very interesting. I cant wait to read the other two books in the trilogy.