Resurgent Adventures with Britannia builds upon Wm Roger Louis's stimulating and acclaimed series, Adventures with Britannia, and draws upon a distinguished array of writers and scholars - historians, political scientists, journalists, novelists, biographers and English literature specialists - to guide the reader through a fascinating labyrinth of British culture, history and politics. They provide a unique insight into the pivotal themes, both political and cultural, which have shaped 20th century state and society. There is detailed consideration of the works of leading figures in art, literature, politics and scholarship - including portraits of Hugh Trevor-Roper by Neal Ascherson, Nye Bevan by Kenneth O. Morgan and Margaret Thatcher by Archie Brown - and how these stellar figures have been deeply affected by war, the imperial experience, decolonization, the enduring problems of the Middle East, Communism, the Cold War and the British-America connections. And there are assessments by leading historians of statesmen, and episodes in global history, which have shaped the modern age. The result is a rich mix of original ideas, historical and literary allusion, personality and anecdote, which together provide an intellectual adventure into the mainsprings of modern British and international society.

The creation of the League of Nations Permanent Mandates Commission (PMC) at the close of the First World War, and its successor, the United Nations Trusteeship Council (TC), following the Second, were watersheds in the history of modern imperialism. For the first time, the international community had asserted that the well-being of colonial peoples was not merely the private concern of metropolitan states, but a shared responsibility of humankind that transcended national boundaries. Editors R.M. Douglas, Michael D. Callahan, and Elizabeth Bishop have assembled a wide array of scholars to assess the relative weight to be placed on international influence in the process of decolonization. Imperialism on Trial reveals, across a broad cross-section of geographical and political settings, the operation of the complicated and often conflicted dynamic between the national and international dimensions of colonialism in its final and most historically consequential phase.

Serendipitous Adventures with Britannia is the latest addition to Wm Roger Louis's stimulating and acclaimed series, Adventures with Britannia. It draws upon a distinguished array of writers and scholars - historians, political scientists, journalists, novelists, biographers and English literature specialists - to guide the reader through a fascinating labyrinth of British culture, history and politics. Together, they provide a unique insight into the pivotal themes - political, literary and cultural - which have shaped British state and society. The subjects covered include a new analysis of Arthur Conan Doyle by David Leal, a new account of Evelyn Waugh and Randolph Churchill, and in literature, Nigel Newton writes on Harry Potter and Bloomsbury. Collectively, the chapters combine a rich mix of original ideas, historical and literary allusion, personality and anecdote, to provide an intellectual adventure into the mainsprings of modern British and international society.

Serendipitous Adventures with Britannia is the latest addition to Wm Roger Louis's stimulating and acclaimed series, Adventures with Britannia. It draws upon a distinguished array of writers and scholars - historians, political scientists, journalists, novelists, biographers and English literature specialists - to guide the reader through a fascinating labyrinth of British culture, history and politics. Together, they provide a unique insight into the pivotal themes - political, literary and cultural - which have shaped British state and society. The subjects covered include a new analysis of Arthur Conan Doyle by David Leal, a new account of Evelyn Waugh and Randolph Churchill, and in literature, Nigel Newton writes on Harry Potter and Bloomsbury. Collectively, the chapters combine a rich mix of original ideas, historical and literary allusion, personality and anecdote, to provide an intellectual adventure into the mainsprings of modern British and international society.

The June 1967 war was a watershed in the history of the modern Middle East. In six days, the Israelis defeated the Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian armies, seizing large portions of their territories. Two veteran scholars of the Middle East bring together some of the most knowledgeable experts in their fields to reassess the origins and the legacies of the war. Each chapter takes a different perspective from the vantage point of a different participant, those that actually took part in the war and also the world powers that played important roles behind the scenes. Their conclusions make for sober reading. At the heart of the story was the incompetence of the Egyptian leadership and the rivalry between various Arab players who were deeply suspicious of each other's motives. Israel, on the other side, gained a resounding victory for which, despite previous assessments to the contrary, there was no master plan.

This is an analysis, based on newly available evidence, of the Suez crisis of 1956, its origins, and its consequences. The contributors are all leading authorities, and some were active participants in the events of 1956, offering personal reflection as well as an assessment of the decisions that were made. The opening chapters trace the origins of the crisis from the British occupation of Egypt, the failure to resolve the problem of Palestine, and the Baghdad Pact of 1955 which divided the Middle East into two opposing camps. Part Two deals with the crisis itself, before and during the invasion of Egypt by British, French, and Israeli troops in November 1956. What type of regime did the British hope to install in place of Nasser's? Why did the invasion come to an abrupt and humiliating halt? Why did the American government insist on the withdrawal of these troops? These questions are among the issues discussed in the third part of the book, which also deals with the impact of the crisis on French and British decolonization, the 'special relationship' between Britain and the United States, de Gaulle's reaction to the 'Anglo-Saxons', and the legacy of Nasser's influence in the Middle East today. Of the contributors who were personally involved at the time of the crisis, Amin Hewedy was on the Egyptian General Staff; Mordechai Bar-On was Ben-Gurion's aide-de-camp; Robert Bowie was United States Assistant Secretary of State; and Adam Watson was head of the African Department of the British Foreign Office. A conclusion by Albert Hourani offers systematic answers to questions raised throughout the book. CONTRIBUTORS: Mordechai Bar-On, Hebrew University, Jerusalem Lord Beloff, All Souls College, Oxford Robert R. Bowie, Harvard University John C. Campbell, former Deputy Director of Eastern European Affairs, and on the Policy Planning Staff of the US State Department Ali E. Hillal Dessouki, Cairo University Howard Dooley, Western Michigan University Hermann Eilts, Boston University Michael Fry, University of Southern California Sarvepalli Gopal, Jawahrlal Nehru University, New Delhi Amin Hewedy, Cairo University, was Political Counsellor to President Nasser Albert Hourani, St Antony's College, Oxford J. C. Hurewitz, Colombia University Rashid I. Kalidi, University of Chicago Diane B. Kunz, Yale University Keith Kyle, Royal Institute of International Affairs, London Wm. Roger Louis, University of Texas Peter Lyon, University of London J. D. B. Miller, Australian National University Roger Owen, St Antony's College, Oxford Shimon Shamir, Tel Aviv University Maurice Vaisse, University of Rheims Adam Watson, University of Virginia

Imperialism in the eyes of the world is still Europe's original sin, even though the empires themselves have long since disappeared. Among the most egregious of imperial acts was Victorian Britain's seemingly random partition of Africa. In this classic work of history, a standard text for generations of students and historians now again available, the authors provide a unique account of the motives that went into the continent's partition. Distrusting mechanistic explanations in terms of economic growth or the European balance, the authors consider the intentions in the minds of the partitioners themselves. Decision by decision, the reasoning of Prime Ministers Gladstone, Salisbury and Rosebery, their advisors and opponents, is carefully analysed. The result is a history of 'imperialism in the making', not as it appeared to later commentators and historians, but as the empire-makers themselves experienced it from day to day. Featuring a new Foreword by Wm. Roger Louis, this new edition brings a classic work to a new generation and is essential reading for all students of nineteenth-century history.

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. This fifth and final volume examines the historiography of empire, investigating the shape and development of scholarly and popular opinion about the British Empire over the centuries. It discusses the ways in which public pressures, current events, the personal backgrounds of authors, the existing literature, and even the nature of university and library development have influenced writings about empire broadly, and the British Empire specifically.

Volume I of the Oxford History of the British Empire explores the origins of empire. It shows how and why England, and later Britain, became involved with transoceanic navigation, trade, and settlement during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The chapters, by leading historians, both illustrate the interconnections between developments in Europe and overseas and offer specialist studies on every part of the world that was substantially affected by British colonial activity. As late as 1630, involvement with regions beyond the traditional confines of Europe was still tentative; by 1690 it had become a firm commitment.

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, aiming to provide a balanced treatment of the ruled as well as the rulers, and to take into account the significance of the Empire for the peoples of the British Isles.

Imperialism in the eyes of the world is still Europe's original sin, even though the empires themselves have long since disappeared. Among the most egregious of imperial acts was Victorian Britain's seemingly random partition of Africa. In this classic work of history, a standard text for generations of students and historians now again available, the authors provide a unique account of the motives that went into the continent's partition. Distrusting mechanistic explanations in terms of economic growth or the European balance, the authors consider the intentions in the minds of the partitioners themselves. Decision by decision, the reasoning of Prime Ministers Gladstone, Salisbury and Rosebery, their advisors and opponents, is carefully analysed. The result is a history of 'imperialism in the making', not as it appeared to later commentators and historians, but as the empire-makers themselves experienced it from day to day. Featuring a new Foreword by Wm. Roger Louis, this new edition brings a classic work to a new generation and is essential reading for all students of nineteenth-century history.

Focusing the perspectives of gender scholarship on the study of empire produces an original volume full of fascinating new insights about the conduct of men as well as women. Bringing together disparate fields - politics, medicine, sexuality, childhood, religion, migration, and many more topics - this new collection of essays demonstrates the richness of studying empire through the lens of gender. This more inclusive look at empire asks not only why the empire was dominated by men, but how that domination affected the conduct of imperial politics. The fresh, new interpretations of the British Empire offered here will interest readers across a wide range, and will demonstrate the vitality of this innovative approach and the new historical questions it raises. SERIES DESCRIPTION The purpose of the five volumes of the Oxford History of the British Empire was to provide a comprehensive study of the Empire from its beginning to end, 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. The volumes in the Companion Series carry forward this purpose by exploring themes that were not possible to cover adequately in the main series, and to provide fresh interpretations of significant topics.

Modern Irish history was determined by the rise, expansion, and decline of the British Empire. And British imperial history, from the age of Atlantic expansion to the age of decolonization, was moulded in part by Irish experience. But the nature of Ireland's position in the Empire has always been a matter of contentious dispute. Was Ireland a sister kingdom and equal partner in a larger British state? Or was it, because of its proximity and strategic importance, the Empire's most subjugated colony? Contemporaries disagreed strongly on these questions, and historians continue to do so. Questions of this sort can only be answered historically: Ireland's relationship with Britain and the Empire developed and changed over time, as did the Empire itself. This book offers the first comprehensive history of the subject from the early modern era through the contemporary period. The contributors seek to specify the nature of Ireland's entanglement with empire over time: from the conquest and colonization of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, through the consolidation of Ascendancy rule in the eighteenth, the Act of Union in the period 1801-1921, the emergence of an Irish Free State and Republic, and eventual withdrawal from the British Commonwealth in 1948. They also consider the participation of Irish people in the Empire overseas, as soldiers, administrators, merchants, migrants, and missionaries; the influence of Irish social, administrative, and constitutional precedents in other colonies; and the impact of Irish nationalism and independence on the Empire at large. The result is a new interpretation of Irish history in its wider imperial context which is also filled with insights on the origins, expansion, and decline of the British Empire. This book offers the first comprehensive history of Ireland and the British Empire from the early modern era through the contemporary period. The contributors examine each phase of Ireland's entanglement with the Empire, from conquest and colonisation to independence, along with the extensive participation of Irish people in the Empire overseas, and the impact of Irish politics and nationalism on other British colonies. The result is a new interpretation of Irish history in its wider imperial context which is also filled with insights on the origins, expansion, and decline of the British Empire. SERIES DESCRIPTION The purpose of the five volumes of the Oxford History of the British Empire was to provide a comprehensive study of the Empire from its beginning to end, 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. The volumes in the Companion Series carry forward this purpose by exploring themes that were not possible to cover adequately in the main series, and to provide fresh interpretations of significant topics.

Leading authorities here analyze the historic special relationship between Britain and the United States since 1945. The opening chapters trace the development of the alliance and discuss the "special relationship within the special relationship" between Churchill and Roosevelt, Eden and Eisenhower, Macmillan and Kennedy, and Thatcher and Reagan. The contributors go beyond traditional rhetorical appeals to common language and heritage and consider the military, political, and economic links that bind the two countries.

Three forces--dwindling British power, rising American influence, and nationalism in a variety of forms--have transformed Australia, New Zealand, and the adjacent islands since 1919. In this volume, some of the most distinguished scholars of the Pacific region assess these significant historical changes.

These essays deal with international relations, politics, changing social structures, and literature since World War I. The themes of the volume as a whole are social and humanistic; they concern the evolution of both a regional identity and separate national identities in the Southwest Pacific. The unique areal and thematic concentration of this book makes it essential reading for all those interested in the history, politics, and culture of the Pacific.

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. Volume III covers the long nineteenth century, from the achievement of American independence in the 1780s to the eve of world war in 1914. This was the period of Britain's greatest expansion as both empire-builder and dominant world power.

The June 1967 war was a watershed in the history of the modern Middle East. In six days, the Israelis defeated the Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian armies, seizing large portions of their territories. Two veteran scholars of the Middle East bring together some of the most knowledgeable experts in their fields to reassess the origins and the legacies of the war. Each chapter takes a different perspective from the vantage point of a different participant, those that actually took part in the war and also the world powers that played important roles behind the scenes. Their conclusions make for sober reading. At the heart of the story was the incompetence of the Egyptian leadership and the rivalry between various Arab players who were deeply suspicious of each other's motives. Israel, on the other side, gained a resounding victory for which, despite previous assessments to the contrary, there was no master plan.

This is a far-reaching study of how Britain's postwar Labour government attempted to sustain a vision of Britain as a world power. Committed to the liquidation of the old British Empire, the government sought to develop new relationships in the Middle East as a replacement for India, hoping to halt the decline of the Empire by putting it on a new basis. Caught between the forces of anti-British nationalism and American anti-colonialism, the attempt was ultimately destined to fail; but it marks a crucial phase in the story of British imperialism and of Middle Eastern history.

The world of books can seem like a trackless forest stretching to the horizon in all directions, full of wrong turns, dead ends, and pitfalls. But it is in fact full of treasure, and Indispensable Reading is a map to books that can provide a lifetime of reading that is thoughtful, provocative, pleasurable, and, above all, memorable-for at a minimum, a book worth reading should linger in the mind. The selections are informed by Wm. Roger Louis's lifetime of reading and 56 years of university teaching. The range of titles is vast. Almost 50 countries are represented in the literature category, and in history the scope is equally broad. A highlight of the book is the carefully curated section on politics. Extensive chapters cover biographies and memoirs, ancient and modern philosophy, and religion. Smaller groupings take account of the social and natural sciences, ethnic and gender studies, and the arts. Indispensable Reading is not meant to be a prescribed course of study. It is not a standardized list of "best books" or "great books" or "read before you die" books. Many of its choices are quirky, surprising. Ultimately, its goal is to stimulate a reader into making a personal list of titles that he or she finds indispensable, another unique map of the way through the forest of books.

The Oxford History of the British Empire is a major new assessment by leading scholars. Volume II examines the history of British worldwide expansion from the Glorious Revolution of 1689 to the end of the Napoleonic Wars, a crucial phase in the creation of the modern British Empire. This is the age of General Wolfe, Clive of India, and Captain Cook. Although the Empire was ruptured by the American Revolution, it survived and grew into the British Empire that was to dominate the world during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.