The Rise & Fall of the British Empire, by Lawrence James

Absolutely brilliant page-turner that for this Brit read like one of the greatest stories ever told. Although 600+ pages in length the author’s erudite & concise writing whips you along so that it feels like the book is barely 200 pages in length. Indeed the story ends in 1995 just before Hong Kong was handed back & it cries out for an update. The story could have been a litany of battles on faraway shores & there is inevitably a great deal of this but what makes this book so good is how the author weaves British politics into the story, & it was the politics of the day that was ultimately responsible for the actions of its fighting men. It also details the wider aspects of the empire's impact on British society, how the empire was viewed throughout its history & how this has been reflected down the generations. It does not pay too much attention to those that were colonised; it's a story from the British perspective though there are some wonderful touches lent to it by quotations from contemporary sources & often from those that were colonised. The exhilaration from the sense of adventure during the empire's rise is followed by jingoism, bigotry & racism but throughout there was a keen sense of morality which was ultimately reflected in the mostly peaceful way that the empire was dismantled. The author then perfectly captures some of the feelings that occurred during the decline which particularly resonated with me. Once again I cannot praise this book highly enough for it's flowing & concise style, information packed & often moving story, one that should be taught in all the country's schools. I certainly wish I had been taught this sort of history at school!
5/5