It is Mr. Heussler's thesis that the min in the colonies, rather than official policy, made British colonialism what it was. The book traces the colonial administrative service from the time when Africa as: the white man's grave" to the years after World War II when the need for special, formal training had become urgent and recommendations for reform were put into effect. But by the time cadets trained in the "new spirit" arrived in their posts, Kwame Nkrumah had already raised the banner of independence, and the effect of the old spirit-elitist, paternalistic, authoritarian-was put to the test in a disturbed sociopolitical atmosphere.