The Oxford History Of The British Empire: Volume IV: The Twentieth Century - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199246793 ISBN 13: 9780199246793

Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A., 2001

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review:

Oxford University Press has recently published a wide variety of historical titles in paperback. Pride of place must go to the five volume Oxford History of the British Empire written under the general editorship of Professor William Roger Lewis and published in hardback in 1998. The five volumes, describe the history and effect of the Empire on world history. The scholars who contributed and the volumes' individual editors all deserve high praise for thie massive undertaking. (Contemporary Review)

Impressive ... a neat balance of thematic and area-specific chapters, all of which are exceptionally well written ... will serve as a vital work of reference for any library concerned with the history of the empire. (Nicholas J. White, The Economic Hist. Rev., Vol.LIII, No.4, Nov.2000.)

The Oxford History of the British Empire has been, arguably, the most important contribution to British imperial studies in recent decades. Volume 4, on the 20th Century, is the highly impressive conclusion of the narrative volumes ... Reasonably priced, this is an indispensable resource. (R.D. Long, Choice, Vol.37, No.11/12, Jul/Aug.00.)

Review from previous edition The Oxford History of the British Empire has been, arguably, the most important contribution to British imperial studies in recent decades. Volume 4, on the 20th Century, is the highly impressive conclusion of the narrative volumes ... Reasonably priced, this is an indispensable resource. (R.D. Long, Choice)

Synopsis:

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. From the founding of colonies in North America and the West Indies in the seventeenth century to the reversion of Hong Kong to China at the end of the twentieth, British imperialism was a catalyst for far-reaching change. The Oxford History of the British Empire as a comprehensive study allows us to understand the end of Empire in relation to its beginnings, the meaning of British imperialism for the ruled as well as the rulers, and the significance of the British Empire as a theme in world history. Volume IV considers many aspects of the 'imperial experience' in the final years of the British Empire, culminating in the mid-century's rapid processes of decolonization. It seeks to understand the men who managed the empire, their priorities and vision, and the mechanisms of control and connection which held the empire together. There are chapters on imperial centres, on the geographical 'periphery' of empire, and on all its connecting mechanisms, including institutions and the flow of people, money, goods, and services.The volume also explores the experience of 'imperial subjects' - in terms of culture, politics, and economics; an experience which culminated in the growth of vibrant, often new, national identities and movements and, ultimately, new nation-states.

It concludes with the processes of decolonization which reshaped the political map of the late twentieth-century world.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0199246793
• ISBN 13: 9780199246793
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 800
• Editor: Brown Judith