The Oxford History of the British Empire: Volume II: The Eighteenth Century

An impressive achievement ... For information on the evolution of British naval strategy, power relations in Indian country, or changing patterns in the Atlantic slave trade, The Eighteenth Century is an invaluable resource. * English Historical Review *
Meticulously planned and flawlessly executed, providing texts that are both scholarly and accessible. The combination of thematic chapters on the empire as a whole, and regional ones on particular parts of it, is especially effective ... Another notable feature is the objectivity and sensitivity with which the contributors handle emotive and controversial subjects. * Simon C. Smith, Times Higher Education Supplement *
Splendid and endlessly fascinating history of the most splendid and fascinating of all empires ... this looks like becoming a useful and generally very fair survey which should help even academics distinguish between the ethics of the British in search of empire and those of, let us say, the French ... this does what a serious history should do, and allows the reader to come to his own conclusions. * Philip Hensher, Spectator *
Professor Louis himself is not merely supremely well qualified on grounds of scholarship, but is also a man of integrity, generosity of mind and, above all, wisdom. These first two of what is to be a five-volume History will surely put at rest any lingering fears that the work might be prejudiced or in any other way inadequate ... the Oxford History will be something that most general readers will like to have on their shelves and consult from time to time ... If the rest of the work is carried out with similar authority, with the same magisterial design and craftmanship in the detail, this will be an achievement of which the editors and the University Press can be properly proud. * Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph *