Empire: The British Imperial Experience From 1765 To The Present Paperback – July 10, 1998

Dennis Judd's book on the history of the British Empire is not a day by day approach to empire but a focus on the most important events that shaped that empire. Things such as the India uprising in 1857 or the work of Cecil Rhodes are the main focus. The stories that are chosen do an excellent job of showing how the empire developed and the path it took to formation. This really is the best single volume work on the British Empire in terms of a pure history. The book covers all parts of the empire and has interesting vignettes such as the formation of the boy scouts. It also covers some of the major internal domestic squabbles within Great Britain as they relate to empire. I found that the discussions on how world war 1 and 2 affected the empire were very accurate and to the point. The reader can get a very good sense of how the British were drained of resources by the wars and see the effect this had on empire. As nationalistic movements took root in the various countries the British found it more difficult to control. Particularly with the end of Lend Lease by Truman the British were forced to grant independence to their colonies. The last few chapters focus on the remaining parts of the empire and how they fit into the commonwealth including the struggle with the Falkland Islands. If the reader wants a much more detailed account of the empire try to the Oxford history five volume British Empire. Judd's account is very readable and well done for those wanting a review of the salient points in the Empire's history.

Bought this for my British history class, gave a lot of great information, but it was in really bad condition, but still usable.

A good, clean copy at a fair price.

To read about the British Empire is to read about part of the history of many countries in almost all the continents in the world. I don't think I should be called anglophile, but If I had to pick the country with the more interesting and richest History, that for sure is the History of the British people. By reading this compelling pages, my opinion about the aftermath of all this is positive. Of course it was not perfect -- there were problems, violence, oppression, but if you look at Singapore, Honk Kong, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and others, I think is fair to say that British rule was positive, even more when it is compared to other expansionist European countries. Although India was the jewel of the empire, things here were complicated indeed, and even more difficult in Africa. The last country to achieve its independence in Africa was Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe, and with its first elected President Robert Mugabe, who still runs the country --- seems not to had been a good idea.One good idea of the British, strategically speaking, was its pursue of dominion on any free island in the world. President Roosevelt even claimed once that "the British would take any land in the world, even if it were only a rock or a sanbar" --- I laughed at this comment but I think it was made in a moment when the United States resented some of the world presence of the British. Another good idea was the creation of the Commonwealth, a place of cooperation of the members and ex-members of this empire. Not least important were the sports, especially cricket and rugby, both invented by the British that undoubtedly still unite the members of this commonwealth. There are much more to say, the book covers even the Falklands war and Mandela's South Africa, but I have only one critic: although there is no explanation about it, at the beginning of the book there is a World Map indicating the Commonwealth in 1996, but including Chilean Antartic Territory as part of British Territory. I think is important for Britain and Chile to reach and agreement on this issue, even more, to increase and improve relations as countries.

The author has conducted a thorough analysis of the real reasons behind english imperial expansion from 18th century onwards and presented the effects of this in it's context.Very enjoyable reading...Interesting to see how present governments are reacting identically to similiar geo-political issues.

The author certainly serves a certain audience. It would be good to remember that the British empire did not win the Anglo Boer War II (1899-1902) by fighting against other soldiers, but by fighting against Boer women, children, the sick, elderly and disabled Boers. When too many children died in the concentration camps after England destroyed all they had, Britain destroyed the Boer Republics. It would also be good to remember that Britain, in this war, forgot the Sandriver Convention that gave the Boer Republics sovereignty, and also that Britain broke rules of the Hague Convention, i.e. by pitching locals against each other,destroying all the food the Boer people had. The soldiers of the British empire even prevented Boer women from going to the toilet at night. These experiences would have made a more complete story. British terrorism against Boer civilians

To read about the British Empire is to read about part of the history of many countries in almost all the continents in the world. I don't think I should be called anglophile, but If I had to pick the country with the more interesting and richest History, that for sure is the History of the British people. By reading this compelling pages, my opinion about the aftermath of all this is positive. Of course it was not perfect -- there were problems, violence, oppression, but if you look at Singapore, Honk Kong, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and others, I think is fair to say that British rule was positive, even more when it is compared to other expansionist European countries. Although India was the jewel of the empire, things here were complicated indeed, and even more difficult in Africa. The last country to achieve its independence in Africa was Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe, and with its first elected President Robert Mugabe, who still runs the country --- seems not to had been a good idea.One good idea of the British, strategically speaking, was its pursue of dominion on any free island in the world. President Roosevelt even claimed once that "the British would take any land in the world, even if it were only a rock or a sanbar" --- I laughed at this comment but I think it was made in a moment when the United States resented some of the world presence of the British. Another good idea was the creation of the Commonwealth, a place of cooperation of the members and ex-members of this empire. Not least important were the sports, especially cricket and rugby, both invented by the British that undoubtedly still unite the members of this commonwealth. There are much more to say, the book covers even the Falklands war and Mandela's South Africa, but I have only one critic: although there is no explanation about it, at the beginning of the book there is a World Map indicating the Commonwealth in 1996, but including Chilean Antartic Territory as part of British Territory. I think is important for Britain and Chile to reach and agreement on this issue, even more, to increase and improve relations as countries.