The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

The renowned historian shares "a stylish, intelligent and readable" chronicle of Great Britain from the seventeenth century to the twentieth (The New York Times Book Review).

Great Britain's geopolitical role has undergone many changes over the last four centuries. Once a maritime superpower and ruler of half the world, Britain now occupies an isolated position as an economically fragile island that is often at odds with her European neighbors. In The Rise and Fall of the British Empire, Lawrence James provides a nuanced reflection of Britain's long and tumultuous transformation.


Spanning the years from 1600 to the present day, James combines detailed scholarship with engaging popular history to provide a comprehensive, perceptive, and insightful history of the British Empire.