The British Empire in the 1950s: Retreat or Revival?

by Martin Lynn

This collection of studies examines the history of the British empire during the 1950s. This is a relatively neglected period in the historiography of British decolonization, coming as it does after the more well researched era of the late 1940s that saw the start of moves to decolonize the empire. The papers in this volume analyze imperial policy and the place of the empire in British society during the 1950s and the degree to which these years represented a period of continuing retreat or of imperial re-assertion.

259 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2006

Reviews

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often I find a book that I wish I could have written -- the highest praise. In this book's case, I wish I could have edited it. Martin Lynn, Professor of African History at Queen's University Belfast, has conceived of, and followed through with, a project of the highest quality. The British Empire in the 1950s contains articles by leading historians of empire, each exceeding the standards of some of the better historical journals. All of the articles are excellent, but if for no other reason, read this book for John Darwin's magnificent essay, "Was there a Fourth British Empire?" This, and much else, makes for a very valuable and timely contribution to the growing body of literature on British decolonization.