British Empire in Colour

by Stewart Binns

At its peak the British Empire was the largest formal Empire that the world has ever seen. Its power and influence extended to all four corners of the globe. It incorporated diverse peoples and cultures, all of whom - for better or worse - were swept under the red, white, and blue banner of British rule.

Tied to the exciting three-part ITV documentary of the same name, the BAFTA winning makers of "Britain at War in Colour" once again prove that seeing events from history in colour gives them a far greater impact and immediacy.

'The British Empire in Colour' contains over 150 colour photographs, many previously unpublished , taken all over the world. From ex-patriots in the very early 1900s attempting to create "Little Britain" in far-flung imperial outposts to the multicultural Britain of today, 'The British Empire in Colour' reveals the impact that the rise and fall of the British Empire has had both on the world and the evolution of a modern Britain.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2002

About the author

Stewart Binns began his professional life as an academic. He then pursued several adventures, including a stint at the BBC, before settling into a career as a schoolteacher, specializing in history. Later in life, a lucky break took him back to the BBC, which was the beginning of a successful career in television. He has won a BAFTA, a Grierson, an RTS and a Peabody for his documentaries. Stewart's passion is English history, especially its origins and folklore. Conquest is his first novel.

Reviews

[Gerry]

As a boy I enjoyed looking at my atlas and in those days the British Empire was huge, so much of the world was coloured red! It has now dwindled away with countries becoming independent. Stewart Binns' book, with over 150 superb coloured photographs accompanied by illuminating narrative and informative captions, tells the tale through the events that took place of how the Empire began and how subsequently the transformation came about.

It has been suggested by some authors that the British Empire began when Henry II invaded Ireland in 1171, others claim the beginning of the British Empire was the discovery and establishment of Newfoundland by John Cabot in 1497. However, Cabot was a Genoese adventurer (Giovanni Caboto) in the service of Henry VII and then Newfoundland was not recognised as a colony until 1824. But by 1670 British explorers and merchants had established colonies in Virginia and Maryland, in Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados and Jamaica. In addition, the Hudson Bay Company was established in Canada, the East India Company had been trading in India since 1600 and the British slave trade had established settlements in West Africa, so the formation of the empire was well underway.

Britain's growing empire was in part an empire by conquest and in part an empire by economic control, the British Navy was the envy of the world and the British merchant fleet held similar sway over international trade. And even the Declaration of Independence by the American colonies in 1776, and its acceptance by Britain in 1782, although a disappointing blow, hardly affected imperial growth. In later times, victory over Napoleon brought more territory for Britain who, it was thought, could send its merchants, sailors, soldiers and adventurers forth to, supposedly, civilise the world.

Stewart Binns' book takes the reader through the development of the Empire in various stages, 'Pax Britanicca?' (note the question mark!), 'Lengthening Shadows' and 'The Wind of Change' before summing up the demise of the empire, the final act being when Chris Patten, handed over Britain's great colonial outpost in the Orient, Hong Kong, to China in 1997.

In between we see how the empire builders went about their business and we view scenes of activity in India, the middle east, South Africa, Egypt, East Africa, Ceylon, Burma, Malta, the Caribbean, Ceylon and Aden. In addition the Boer War, the First World War, the Suez Crisis, various Royal tours are all put into context with the really excellent photographs providing a feel for colonial life, now all long gone.

The book certainly gives a feel for how the empire was and how the world has changed since its demise. Interestingly the final words in the book explain how Britain is - soon presumably, perhaps even, was - now aligned with Europe! Sorry, how could we get on to Brexit? One can't escape it!