The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire
A comprehensive history of an empire's rise and decline
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:2nd Oct '08
Should be back in stock very soon

This book provides a detailed exploration of the British Empire's rise and rapid decline, highlighting its complex legacy and lasting impacts.
No empire has ever matched the vastness and diversity of the British Empire. At its zenith in the 1930s, it boasted a staggering 42 million Britons governing over 500 million subjects worldwide. This vast dominion, often symbolized by the iconic red on maps, epitomized Britain's naval supremacy. However, the collapse of this formidable empire occurred with remarkable speed, often marked by violence and upheaval. Within just a generation, the empire disintegrated, leaving behind a collection of territories and a lingering legacy in the form of the Commonwealth, which now exists in the shadow of the United States.
The aftermath of the British Empire's fall presents a complex narrative. Its legacy is both celebrated and contested; while it introduced a shared legal framework, a global language, and a spirit of sportsmanship, it also contributed to the rise of failed states and internal conflicts in many regions. The story of the empire's decline is rich with vivid details, offering a tapestry of brief lives, poignant anecdotes, and symbolic moments that encapsulate the era.
The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire stands out as a remarkable historical account, blending scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling. It captures the essence of an empire that once ruled the waves, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of its rise and fall, and the lasting impacts it has had on the world today.
A monumental new history * The Times *
This is a huge and hugely impressive book, mighty in scale as its subject, elegantly written and rigorous in its research * Daily Telegraph *
Magnificent...a narrative masterpiece. The settings are exotic, the cast of thousands full of the most eccentric, egotistical, paranoid, swashbuckling players you are likely to meet in any history -- Richard Overy * Sunday Telegraph *
A provocative, marvellously readable account * Financial Times *
Brilliant... A masterpiece of historical narrative. No review can hope to do justice to the depth of Brendon's research, the balance and originality of his conclusions, or the quality and humour of his prose. Our imperial story has been crying out for a top-flight historian who can write. Now it has one * Literary Review *
In recent years the British Empire has been the subject of fresh scrutiny... Now Piers Brendon brings his own sharp eye to the debate... This he does superbly: with brio and panache and, often, a mordant wit...This is a real achievement and an important one * Independent *
The conquest of one quarter of the world's surface was, as Piers Brendon shows in disturbingly entertaining fashion, a story of massacre, famine, rape, torture and loot on a grand scale....Brendon with an acute eye for detail and the tragic-comic bon mot, serves up a veritable gorefest in which all sides slake their lusts * Scotland on Sunday *
ISBN: 9780712668460
Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 42mm
Weight: 625g
848 pages