A Private Empire

by Stephen Foster

A Private Empire is a finely grained account of one family's experience of empire, extending over five continents and 250 years. The narrative is centred on the Scottish Macpherson family. Between the 1740s and the 1990s, six generations of the family contributed to the British empire and its legacies, recording their activities in an extraordinary archive of letters, papers and diaries, to which the author has unlimited access. This is a cross-cultural, imperial history title which aims to appeal to readers with an interest in history who like a good story. It builds on two themes that fascinate contemporary audiences: life stories and empire.

Key points: a fascinating cross-cultural, imperial history title; meticulously researched; beautifully presented

Genres: History

Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Stephen Foster is an Australian historian who has spent much of his career at the borders of academic and public history. His books include A Private Empire, which was short-listed for the Ernest Scott Prize for History and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, and (as co-author) The Making of the Australian National University, which has been described as ‘a model university history’. He and his wife have three adult children and two grandchildren.