Product Description

This leading general history of British imperialism, from its Victorian heyday to present times, has been thoroughly revised and updated. As well as presenting a lively narrative of events, Bernard Porter explores a number of broad analytical themes, challenging more conventional and popular interpretations. He sees imperialism as a symptom not of Britain's strength in the world, but of her decline; and he argues that the empire itself both aggravated and obscured deep-seated malaise in the British economy. A refreshing look at one of the central aspects of British history. 

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #124009 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review

'Personal preferences aside, Bernard Porter's study remains a wonderfully illuminating, eminently entertaining survey, rich in revealing insights and vivid quotations, from which readers will continue to gain enormous pleasure and enlightenment.' - Peter Burroughs's Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History

Recommended reading in BBC History Magazine, October 2006

From the Back Cover

'As for Dr Porter's study, this reviewer found it one of the most

captivating pieces he had read for a long time: his book abounds in wit, is

studded with brief but telling phrases, and reveals an unerring eye for the

relevant fact and apposite quotation'.

Paul Kennedy, The Historical Journal

'An extremely well-written, cleverly constructed book'

Andrew Porter, Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History

'The book is still the best short study of its subject...Some will

doubtless treat it as a textbook: and it is indeed full of accurate

information, telling phrases and aptly-deployed quotations, all presented

in a very lively and readable manner. In fact, it is a clear, coherent and

well substantiated interpretation...'

Iain R. Smith Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History

'A most valuable key to modern British colonial history. From this gripping

and lucid exposition, we may gather an understanding not only of the

initial intricacies of colonial problems...but of their alarming legacies.'

Gerard Douds, History Today

This lively, original and authoritative history of British imperialism from

its Victorian heyday to present times has been a favourite for some years.

For this 4th edition it has been thoroughly revised and updated, with a new

and expansive introduction exploring the problems and historiography of

`imperialism' generally, and an additional final chapter taking the story

through to the ‘new imperialism’ of the early 21st century. Other new

features are a chronology of events, an updated bibliography, and a section

of plates illustrating various aspects of empire and imperialism.

Bernard Porter is Emeritus Professor of History, University of Newcastle.

He has published extensively in the areas of British imperial, foreign and

security service history, including The Absent Minded Imperialists:

Empire,Culture and Society (2004).

About the Author

Bernard Porter is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Newcastle. His previous publications include Britannia’s Burden: The Political Evolution of Modern Britain 1851-1990 (1994) and The Absent-Minded Imperialists: The Empire in British society and culture, 1800-1940 (2004).

Customer Reviews

A good introduction to British colonial history
"The Lion's Share" is one of the books which enabled me best to acquire the necessary background knowledge for the writing of my Master's dissertation (the subject was: The Failure of the Integration Process of Malta within the United Kingdom: 1955-1958)