未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張 - Goodreads

大英帝國以各種方式塑造了世界：移民數個大陸、創造新國家，並將其語言、科技、價值觀強加在其他民族身上。

近兩百年時間，其擴張至垮台，乃是決定歷史進程的最大因素，如今 ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof 未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張byJohnDarwin. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張 byJohnDarwin 未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張 by JohnDarwin, 約翰·達爾文, 黃中憲(Translator) 4.03  ·  Ratingdetails ·  639 ratings  ·  67 reviews 在這個不穩定的世界裡，沒有哪種帝國能維持現狀永遠不變，只有暫時的喘息，沒有帝國的「最終狀態」。

要了解帝國體系，就要先了解英國！我們生活在由數個帝國打造出的世界，今日的主權國家，有多達四分之一出自英國。

大英帝國以各種方式塑造了世界：移民數個大陸、創造新國家，並將其語言、科技、價值觀強加在其他民族身上。

近兩百年時間，其擴張至垮台，乃是決定歷史進程的最大因素，如今它仍為迷思、誤解、爭議所籠罩。

本書說明大英帝國內部多元並存、矛盾，又混亂，這個帝國受水火不容的利益團體所控制，其擴張除憑藉本身的強大，也得益於他國的衰弱。

同時以英國為例，探討在歐洲境外擴張的三百年期間帝國的建造過程，並以中世英格蘭帝國主義史為這些擴張行動的根源。

GetACopy AmazonStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleAbeBooksWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Paperback,528pages Published January8th2015 by麥田出版 (firstpublished2012) MoreDetails... OriginalTitle UnfinishedEmpire:TheGlobalExpansionofBritain ISBN 9863441856 (ISBN13:9789863441854) EditionLanguage Chinese OtherEditions(12) AllEditions ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout 未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張, pleasesignup. RecentQuestions ShouldIreadDarwin's'UnfinishedEmpire'or'TheEmpireProject'?Theyseemtocoverprettymuchthesametopic?Ialreadyread'AfterTamerlane'andlovedit. 2likes · like 3yearsago Addyouranswer See1questionabout未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張… ListswithThisBook ThisbookisnotyetfeaturedonListopia. Addthisbooktoyourfavoritelist» CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 4.03  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  639 ratings  ·  67 reviews AllLanguagesDeutsch‎(1) English‎(63) 中文‎(0) Morefilters  |  Sortorder Startyourreviewof未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張Writeareview Dec03,2012 Andrew ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition In1953,twoOxfordhistoriansintheirearlythirtiespublishedapapercalled"TheImperialismofFreeTrade."Thepaperbrokenewgroundbysuggestingthatfarfrombeingagovernment-led"project"aimedatculturalandeconomicdominance(asMarxisthistorianswereinsisting),theBritishEmpirehadbeencreatedbyinformalityandtrade.InotherwordsthattheEmpirehadbeendrivenbymerchantsandentrepreneursseekingtheirfortunesontheopenseasmorethanbureaucratsandpoliticians In1953,twoOxfordhistoriansintheirearlythirtiespublishedapapercalled"TheImperialismofFreeTrade."Thepaperbrokenewgroundbysuggestingthatfarfrombeingagovernment-led"project"aimedatculturalandeconomicdominance(asMarxisthistorianswereinsisting),theBritishEmpirehadbeencreatedbyinformalityandtrade.InotherwordsthattheEmpirehadbeendrivenbymerchantsandentrepreneursseekingtheirfortunesontheopenseasmorethanbureaucratsandpoliticiansplottingglobaldomination.Inthefirstfewpagesof"UnfinishedEmpire:TheGlobalExpansionofBritain,"JohnDarwinacknowledgesRobinsonandGallagher'sinfluence.Whatfollowsisamagnificentexpansionoftheirthesis,ananalysisofdepth,nuanceandclaritythatbringstogethermuchofthethinkingonEmpireoverthepastsixtyyears.DarwiniscurrentlyBeitUniversityLecturerintheHistoryoftheBritishCommonwealthandisclearlyinhis"prolific"phase.In2007,hepublished"AfterTamerlane:TheRiseandFallofGlobalEmpires,1400-2000";in2009heproduced"TheEmpireProject:TheRiseandFalloftheBritishWorld-System1830-1970".The480pagesin"UnfinishedEmpire"bringhistotaloutputofpopularpublishingonEmpire(notwithstandinghisacademicoutput)tonighon2000pages.Thebookavoidsstrictchronology,insteadfollowinganorderwhichmightbedescribedasa"lifecycle"approach.Itstwelvechaptersopenwith"ImaginingEmpire",movethrough"TakingPossession"and"ResortingtoWar"beforeconcludingwith"Defending"and"Ending"Empire.(Thelastoftheseisparticularlyfascinating:DarwinsuggeststhattheideathatBritain"managed"itsdeclineisdebatableatbest).ThroughoutthebookBritain'simperialstoryisputinitsglobalhistoricalcontext.England'sexpansionintoWales,IrelandandScotlandareallincluded;thefortuitousimpactoftheSevenYearsWar(1756-63)andtheNapoleonicWarsonBritain'sroleintheworld(particularlyvis-à-visFrance)isbrilliantlyexplained.AsalsoisthewaythatBritain,in1815,suddenlyfounditselfwiththemeans(industry)andthemethod(controloftheseas)toexpandtheempireslowlyatfirstandthenatbreakneckspeedinthesecondhalfofthecenturyupto1914.TheperiodafterthePeaceofVersaillesisshowninallitscomplexities,asBritishtradersheldfaithinthe"natural"ideaofBritishimperialdominancewhiletherestoftheworld(particularlyAmerica)werecreatingtheirownsystems.Darwinconsiderstheimpactoftheperiodfrom1942-5ascriticalintheeventualfracturinganddissolutionoftheideaofBritain'sroleatthetopofthetree.Inthe50sand60s,EdenandMacmillanaremadetolooklikelostsoulsinicyseas,clingingontothehopethattheirboathadonlysufferedsuperficialdamage.Thereality,aswenowknow,wasthatthedamagewassufficienttorequireasearchforanentirelynewboat-asearchthatismoreintensetodaythanever.ThisisessentialreadingforanyonewithaninterestinwhereBritainhascomefromandwhereitisgoing.ItremindsusthattheEmpirewasaremarkableanddisparateseriesofenterprises,drivenbyanunlikelyconglomerationofcircumstancesandcreatedbyexpansively-mindedindividuals.Theresultwasanempireofatypewhichisunlikelyevertoberepeated. ...more flag 14likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Feb18,2022 Tajei ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Asachild,youlearnthatyouliveinacountry,andthatthiscountryisrunbyagovernment.Youhaveavagueideathatthisgovernment“makestherules”,andmightthinkofitasaGod-Emperor-likeforcethatgovernsbydecree.Asyougetolder,thispicturecomplicatesalittle.Youlearnthatthereisn’treallyonepersonwhorunsthegovernment,thatitspowerisn’treallyabsolute,andthatsometimesthePMhastoholdoffonanappropriationsbillbecauseitwouldunderminesupportfor Asachild,youlearnthatyouliveinacountry,andthatthiscountryisrunbyagovernment.Youhaveavagueideathatthisgovernment“makestherules”,andmightthinkofitasaGod-Emperor-likeforcethatgovernsbydecree.Asyougetolder,thispicturecomplicatesalittle.Youlearnthatthereisn’treallyonepersonwhorunsthegovernment,thatitspowerisn’treallyabsolute,andthatsometimesthePMhastoholdoffonanappropriationsbillbecauseitwouldunderminesupportforacrucialswingconstituencywhichthePMneedstopasshissocialprogrammeatthenextGE.Inotherwords,it’sprettycomplicated.Similarly,youmaylearnthatyourcountrywasatsomepointgovernedbyanempire.Unfortunately,ourunderstandingof(theBritish)empirerarelyexceedsthechild’slevelofdepth.Wethinkofempireintermsofannexationofland,itsexpansioninavaguelyinexorableway(rollingoutwards),anditspolicyasbeingcraftedbyacabalofsinisterplotters(betheyChristianEvangelical,Jewish,white-supremacist,capitalist,etc.)Andsointheendwegetthisverysimpleandreductiveviewofempirethatdoesn’tdealwithitscomplexities,nor(properly)itsfaults.Thisbooktriestocorrectthat.Amajorpointthebooktriesrepeatedlytoemphasiseisthattherewasnoone“atthehelm”.ThisisunsurprisinggiventhattheBritishempirespannednearlyfourcenturiesandencompassedBritain’sdevelopmentfromfeudalmonarchytoconstitutionalmonarchytobourgeoisdemocracytofulldemocracy.TheideathataconsistentanddirectedpolicyunderpinnedBritishimperialpolicyfromstarttofinishisjustnottrue.Rather,theempirewaspulledinlotsofdifferentdirectionsbymanydifferentinterests,andthepurposeofempireshiftedsignificantlyfromsettlercolonisation(priortoAmericanindependence)tocommercialexpansion(priorto1815)todefencearchitecture(priorto1914)todesperateattemptsatsurvival(priortoTheEnd).Thisiswhy,e.g.,NewZealand,IndiaandEgyptaresodifferent.
Inasimilarway,theBritishEmpirewasnotofonekind.Unlikeclassical-eraempires(Chinese,Roman)whichtriedtoinstituteuniformruleacrosstheirterritories,theBritishempireneverattemptedtoimposeidenticallawseverywhere,whichprobablycontributedagreatdealtoitssuccess.Broadlytheempirecouldbesplitintothreeparts.Therewerethesettlercolonies—Australia,NewZealand,Canadaand(partly)SouthAfrica,plusafewCaribbeanislands—wheretheBritishsystemofgovernmentwaslargelycopiedbythewhitesettlers,whohadasignificantdegreeofautonomy.(Butevenamongthesetherewereimportantdifferences,cf.thedifferencebetweenthetreatmentoftheindigenouspopulationsofAustraliaandthoseofNewZealand.)ThenthereweretheCrownColonies,Singaporeamongthem,inwhichlocalrulersweretypicallykeptinplace—conditionalupontheirallegiancetotheCrown.FinallytherewasIndia,awholeworlduntoitself,withmorethan600differentjurisdictionsandprincelystateslinkedinapatchworkofarrangementstotheEICandthentheCrown.TheextenttowhichBritishlawappliedtothesevariouscolonieswasbothinconsistentandvague,creatingsignificantvariationacrosstheempire.Beyondthoseformalcolonies(andoftenfarmoreimportant)werethedefactocolonies,likeEgypt,whereBritainretainedagarrisonuntiltheSuezCrisis,andLatinAmerica,whereBritishcommercialinterestspredominateddespitethelackofformalcolonisation,i.e.neo-colonialismbeforethewordwascoined.(Inthe1800s,therisingUSwouldchallengethisBritishpresenceinL.AmericainamirrorofChina’sattemptstothrowoffUSpredominanceinAsiatoday.)ButthekeyideaofthebookisthecontingencyofthegrowthoftheBritishempire.Itrejectsanyideathatsomethingfundamentalintheculture,politicsorgeographyofBritainordaineditsrise.(InfacttheawkwardshapeofBritainanditsempiremadeitmind-bendinglydifficulttodefend,unliketheniceandcontiguousRomanempire.)Darwinthinksthatitwasaconjunctionoftwoaccidents—theweaknessoftheotherEuropeanempirespost-1815,andtheweaknessoftheolderAsianempiresaroundthesametime— thatgaveBritainanopportunitytoexploit.Thefactthatthesehappenedsimultaneouslyessentiallyhappenedbychance,butgaveBritainthespringboardtogrow. ...more flag 5likes · Like  · seereview Mar23,2013 Don ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition (FROMMYBLOG)Someofuscanremembertheoldpull-downWorldmapsatthefrontofourclassrooms,mapsonwhichhalfthecountrieswerecoloredpink.ThosepinklandsmadeuptheBritishEmpire.Empiresaren'tfashionablethesedays--except,perhaps,withneo-conslikeDickCheney--buttheBritishEmpirehasrecededfarenoughintohistorytoexertanostalgicpullonouraffections.Wethinkofexplorers(likeDr.Livingston)openingupnewareasinAfricaandAsia.Wevisualizemilitary (FROMMYBLOG)Someofuscanremembertheoldpull-downWorldmapsatthefrontofourclassrooms,mapsonwhichhalfthecountrieswerecoloredpink.ThosepinklandsmadeuptheBritishEmpire.Empiresaren'tfashionablethesedays--except,perhaps,withneo-conslikeDickCheney--buttheBritishEmpirehasrecededfarenoughintohistorytoexertanostalgicpullonouraffections.Wethinkofexplorers(likeDr.Livingston)openingupnewareasinAfricaandAsia.Wevisualizemilitaryofficerscrisplydressedinred-coateduniforms,pioneerfamiliesinCanadaandAustralia,theinvincibleBritishfleet,Indian"durbars"presidedoverbyViceroys--and,moregenerally,theentireVictorianaristocraticbackdropofboys'schools,overstuffedfurniture,leatherbooks,longlettershomefromthecolonies,andLondonitselfasthecenterofcivilization.MymindwandersthuslybecauseIhavejustfinishedreadingUnfinishedEmpire:TheGlobalExpansionofBritain,anewbookbyOxfordhistorianJohnDarwin.Inonereadablevolume,DawsontellsusallweeverthoughtwewantedtoknowabouttheBritishEmpire--butit'salsomademewanttolearnevenmore.AsanAmericanschoolboy,IwastaughtaspecificpointofviewwithrespecttowhatwecalltheAmericanRevolution.Indoctrinationinanationalreligion,Isuppose.Evenincollege,whenItookacourseanalyzingtheeventsleadingupto1776fromanationallyknownexpertinthefield,thefactswerestudiedinfargreaterdetail,buttheirworldwidecontextwasnotnotablybroadened.Inallmycoursework,atwhateverlevel,itwasassumedthatAmericanIndependencewasacentralfactofworldhistory.ProfessorDarwin'shistoryistaughtfromaBriton'spointofview.Itisnotobviouslybiased,anymorethanmycollegecoursewasobvouslybiased.ButfromBritain'sviewpoint,thebattleagainsttheAmericancolonistswasmerelyoneaspectofadangerousperiodinBritishhistory.AfterBritain'sunexpectedterritorialgainsatthePeaceofParis(1763),endingtheSevenYearsWarwithFrance,Spain,andAustria(whichweparochiallydescribeasthe"FrenchandIndianWar"),shefoundherselfoverextendedoverseas,andfacedwithpotentiallydangerousforcesontheEuropeancontinent.Desperateformoney,BritainimposedthenotoriousStampTaxontheAmericancolonies,forcingustohelppayfortheBritishtroopsthathadprotectedusagainsttheFrench--ataxthatledtotheDeclarationofIndependence.Whiletryingtoreimposeorderinthecoloniesbyblockadingitsshipping,theBritishfacedarenewedthreatfromFrance,Spain,andHolland.ThesenationswerejoinedbyRussiain1780,thusincludingvirtuallyallofEuropeinademandthattheBritishblockadeagainstthecoloniesnotaffectneutralshipping.Britain'snavywasgreatlyoutnumberedbythoseofthealliednations,andtheBritishIslesthemselveswerethreatened.[I]n1782,[Britain]regainedcontroloftheAtlantic.ButfortheAmericanwar,itwastoolittletoolate.InthecriticalphasewhenitsAtlanticlifelinewascut,Cornwallis'sarmy,theirmainAmericanstrike-force,wassqueezedintosurrenderatYorktown[1781].Withnowilltogoon,theBritishwenttotheconferencetabledesperatetobreakupthecoalitionagainstthem.ConcedingAmericanindependencewastheonlysurewaytoendthecolonies'alliancewithFrance--theworstofallworlds--andpreservetheircommercialconnectionwithBritain.MyAmericaneducationneversuppressedknowledgeofthehistoricalcontextinwhichindependenceoccurred.ButweweretaughthistoryasperceivedbyourforebearslivinginMassachusettsandVirginia,forwhomtheEuropeanbalanceofpowerwasofmerelyincidentalinterest--nothistoryasitmighthavebeenperceivedbyaninterestedMartianhoveringoverhead.DarwinisnoMartian,buthisperceptionasanhistorianwhosefascinationlieswiththedevelopmentoftheentireBritishEmpireaddsthenecessarycontext.FromBritain'spointofview,LondonhadbentoverbackwardstryingtoplacatetheAmericancolonists,atleastinsofaraspossiblewithoutsurrenderingwhateveradvantagewasderivedfromthecolonies'statusasimperialpossessions.TheAmericanwarisbutaminorthemeinDawson'sstory,apreludetothelaterdevelopmentofwhatnowusuallycomestomindwhenweheartheterm,"BritishEmpire"--anamazingstoryofcommercialandmilitarysuccessforwhichBritain'svictoriesatTrafalgar(1805)andWaterloo(1815)werethenecessarybutnotsufficientconditions.ButlessonslearnedindealingwiththeAmericancoloniesaffectedBritain'spoliciesindealingwithfuturecolonies,especiallythosethatDawsoncalls"settlersocieties"--Canada,Australia,NewZealand,andSouthAfrica.AndthechaptersdealingwithIndia--thejewelintheCrown--couldbereadaloneasafascinatingcautionarytale,amixtureofavariceandnobility,crueltyandcompassion,recklessnessandcaution.HowtheEmpiredevelopedafter1815--primarilyasameanstoprotectBritishcommercialinvestmentandexploitation--andhowasmallislandparlayedanearlyindustrialrevolution,supportedbylargedomesticreservesofcoal,intooneofthelargestandmostsuccessfulempires,commerical,financialandgovernmental,theworldhaseverseen,istheprimarystoryofDawson'sbook.Asisthesobering--tousonthissideofthepond--codaillustratinghowBritainfellfromworlddominationwithinnotmuchmorethanageneration.AsanAmerican,Iliketorecallthefableoftheblindpygmiestryingtounderstandtheirfirstencounterwithanelephant.Ourhistoryclasses,perhaps,havetaughtustoinspectcarefullytheelephant'slegandconcludethatanelephantisaformofhairy-barkedtree.Dawson'sbookshowsustheentirebeast. ...more flag 3likes · Like  · seereview Jun03,2022 MichaelRatnapalan ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Atremendousdistillationofthematerialbytheleadingexpertofhisgeneration.ItwasfascinatingtoseehowDarwinintegratesthedifferenthistoricalliteratureacrossperiods.Ialsoenjoyedhisterseandwitheringput-downs,e.g.'Britainwasnot"constituted"byempire-amodishbutvacuousexpression'.'AfterTamerlane'isalsoverygood,while'TheEmpireProject'containssomeofthefunniestwritingaboutthemythof"managed"BritishdeclinethatIhaveeverread. Atremendousdistillationofthematerialbytheleadingexpertofhisgeneration.ItwasfascinatingtoseehowDarwinintegratesthedifferenthistoricalliteratureacrossperiods.Ialsoenjoyedhisterseandwitheringput-downs,e.g.'Britainwasnot"constituted"byempire-amodishbutvacuousexpression'.'AfterTamerlane'isalsoverygood,while'TheEmpireProject'containssomeofthefunniestwritingaboutthemythof"managed"BritishdeclinethatIhaveeverread. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Jun30,2014 Martin ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition AnexcellentoverviewoftheageofEmpireandhowBritainconducteditselfinitsmajoracquisitions.Thebookappearstomeaswell-balancedinitsanalyses.ItdoesnotsubscribetotheviewthatBritainbroughtcultureandindustrytobackwardspeoples,althoughitdoespointoutitspositiveadditionstoacountry.Notdoesthebooktakethepost-colonialviewthattheBritishwerehorriblyinvasive,greedyandleftdevastationintheirwake,althoughthebookdoessayasmuchwhentheocca AnexcellentoverviewoftheageofEmpireandhowBritainconducteditselfinitsmajoracquisitions.Thebookappearstomeaswell-balancedinitsanalyses.ItdoesnotsubscribetotheviewthatBritainbroughtcultureandindustrytobackwardspeoples,althoughitdoespointoutitspositiveadditionstoacountry.Notdoesthebooktakethepost-colonialviewthattheBritishwerehorriblyinvasive,greedyandleftdevastationintheirwake,althoughthebookdoessayasmuchwhentheoccasionmeritsit.Ilearnedthatmanytimesduringtheempire’scontractionthatwhatwenowsayshouldhavehappenedwasactuallydesiredbythepeopleinpoweratthetime,asinthecaseoftheIndia/Pakistanpartition,whichwasagreedtobyitsBritishgovernorsonlybecauseiftheyhadnotconcludedthebusinessquickly,therewasgoingtobeamassivecivilandreligiouswar.ThereismuchattentionpaidtoAmerica’sWarofIndependencebecausealthoughitdidnothinderBritain’sgrowthelsewhere,itaffectedpolicyinitsfuturecoloniesbothinhowtodealwithindigenouspeoplesandhowtolimitcolonists’powers.TheoverallviewpointofthisbookishowsometimesBritainruthlesslypursuedempire,sometimesitstumbledintoit(governanceasalastresorttosecuretrade),andsometimestookcontrolastheleastundesirableoption,butthattherewasnoparticularpatterntowhathappenedinvariousplaces.However,majorlessonslearnedfromtheAmericancoloniesincludedneverpurchasinglandfromnatives(thatwouldproveitwasthenatives’landinthefirstplace,whichcouldgetlegallystickyoncecolonistswantedmore),notgivingsomuchpowerthatthecolonistssawParliamentasanobstructionorhindrancetogrowth,andtonotfightawarforacolonywithoutthecolonybeingabletofinanceit.ThislastpointisnotpositedinAmericanhistoryclasses:thetaxesimposedinthe1770s(andquarteringofsoldierspriortothat)whichthecolonistsfoundsoinflammatoryweresimplytorecoverthecostsfortheFrench&IndianWar(theNorthAmericantheatreoftheSevenYears’War,reallyourfirstworldwidewar)andtoprotectthecoloniesfromfurtherwarfare.TheAmericanWarofIndependencewasalsocrucialinthewaningyearsoftheBritishEmpireinthatithadpreparedBritainforthatfactthatmostoftheircolonieswouldeventuallygotheirownway.OneofthelovelyaspectsofthisbookisthatitcelebratesthepluralityofmodernBritishlifewhichisadirectconsequenceofitsdiverseandfar-reachingcommonwealth.ItalsocelebratesthelargenumberofordinaryBritish(withoccasionalshoutoutstoIrish)peoplewhosespiritandindustriousnessmadethesefar-flungcoloniespossible.Therecameintobeinggroupsandfamilieswhoneverseemedtostopimmigrating,fromBritaintoIndiatoAustraliatoAmericaandbackagain.Thereisalsodiscussionofpoliticiansandwriterswhoobjectedtotheempire’sexpansion,firstincensedbytheslavetrade,andlaterfeelingthattheempirewasmerelyfuelingaredundantaristocracy.Thefinalthirdofthebookisonelongslidedownhill,andthemakingoftheworldweknowtoday.AlthoughBritainwasoneofthevictorsofWWII,itsdefeatsearlyinthewarhadcausedCanada,AustraliaandNewZealandtoturntotheU.S.outofnecessity,andnotwithoutreservations.InthemiddleofthewarBritainhadtopromiseIndiaitwouldhaveindependenceafterwards,togiveitsarmysomeincentivewhenitlookedpossiblethattheremightbealandwaronthesubcontinentfollowingJapan’sconquestofSingapore.Followingthewar,andpartiallyfueledbytheU.S.,BritainandFrancefeltitimportanttohangouttowhateverdependenciestheyhadleftinordertoformabarriertoCommunism.Overall,afantastic,essentialhistorybook.IneglectedtosayearlierthatitcontainslengthybutconciseanalysesofhowtheBritishwereabletoruleIndiasocompletelyforsolong,usingsomanydifferentmethodsofcoercion,collaboration,force,andfinallyassimilation(whichbackfiredinthatithelpedtocreatetheeducatedclassthatwouldfightforindependenceandinitiallyrule).Worthitforthatalone,butthereissomuchmoretobediscoveredinthisbook. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Feb28,2022 GijsGrob ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: non-fiction, history, english, 21st-century, 2010s, politics 'UnfinishedEmpire'isaveryinterestingdescriptionoftheBritishEmpire.Darwintakesanon-chronologicalcomparativeapproachtoillustratethattheempirewassomethingdifferenttodifferentpeople,timeperiodsandlocations.Forexample,theBritishcoloniesintheAmericashadlittletodowiththelaterregimeoftheBritishrajinIndia.EvenrelativelyclosecolonieslikeAustraliaandNewZealandhadverydifferenthistories.Darwintakesseveralgeneralaspectsoftheempiretoex 'UnfinishedEmpire'isaveryinterestingdescriptionoftheBritishEmpire.Darwintakesanon-chronologicalcomparativeapproachtoillustratethattheempirewassomethingdifferenttodifferentpeople,timeperiodsandlocations.Forexample,theBritishcoloniesintheAmericashadlittletodowiththelaterregimeoftheBritishrajinIndia.EvenrelativelyclosecolonieslikeAustraliaandNewZealandhadverydifferenthistories.Darwintakesseveralgeneralaspectsoftheempiretoexploretheminmoredetail,e.g.'takingpossession','trafficandtrade','rulingmethods'and'defendingempire'.Theonlychronologicalchapteristhelastone,'Endingempire',whichdescribesthequickdismantlingofBritain'svastdomainafterWorldWarII.'UnfinishedEmpire'isextremelywell-researched,butDarwincarefullyguidesyouthroughthewealthofinformation,andhisstyleisclear,entertainingandtothepoint.Theonlythingmissingisacomparativeanalysiswithotherempires,orwithothercolonialcountries.Thusthequestion,whatmadetheBritishempiretypicallyBritishremainsquiteunanswered,eventhoughDarwinconvincinglyarguesthattherootsofitsBritishnesslayalreadyinmedievalEnglandandinthehandlingofitsfirstcolonyIreland.Inall,'UnfinishedEmpire'isaveryinsightfulbookonwhatwastheBritishempire,showingthatitneverwasjustonehomogeneousthing.Recommendedforanyoneinterestedingeopolitics,history,colonialismandimperialism. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview May25,2020 Moses ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 2020 Thisisagreatbook.Itisclearlywrittenbyanacademicconversantinthestudyofempire,butitdoesnotgetlostintheweedsofscholarlydebate.Itstaysonthestraightandnarrowpathofinformingit'sreaderswithlittlevisiblebiasfororagainsttheBritishimperialproject.Darwin'sbookremindsusthattheriseofempiresisnotsolelydrivenbyanyonefactor(e.g.acquisitiveness)andthatinsomecases,Imperialpossessionscomeintothefoldalmostaccidentally,especiallyfor Thisisagreatbook.Itisclearlywrittenbyanacademicconversantinthestudyofempire,butitdoesnotgetlostintheweedsofscholarlydebate.Itstaysonthestraightandnarrowpathofinformingit'sreaderswithlittlevisiblebiasfororagainsttheBritishimperialproject.Darwin'sbookremindsusthattheriseofempiresisnotsolelydrivenbyanyonefactor(e.g.acquisitiveness)andthatinsomecases,Imperialpossessionscomeintothefoldalmostaccidentally,especiallyforanempirebuiltonabluewaterNavy,likeBritain's.It'salsoeasytoforgetthatBritain'sempire,thelargestinlandareaevercreated,wasshort-lived,withitstimeinthesunlastingfromroughly1830to1945.Anexcellentintroductiontothestudyofempire.ThishelpedcontextualizesomeoftheindependentreadingI'vedoneonvariousfar-flungbitsofempire,suchasRhodesiaandtheFalklands. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview May16,2018 Joshua ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: worlds-that-were ThiswasareallyinterestingbookthatchangedmyconceptionofwhattheBritishEmpireactuallywasquitealot. flag 1like · Like  · seereview Mar06,2013 Leah ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: factual, 2013, history, new-to-me Accessible,edifyingandenjoyable…Forthenon-academicreader,anyhistorybookhastobefirstandforemostreadableandthisonemostcertainlyis.DarwinhastakenthehugesubjectoftheBritishEmpireandbrokenitdownintoaseriesofthemedchaptersthatmakesitaccessibleandenjoyablereading.Forexample,onechapterisdevotedtoTrafficandTrade,whileanotherdiscussesRulingMethods.ThismethodallowsDarwintoshowhowsimilaritiesanddifferencesintheapproachtocontrolli Accessible,edifyingandenjoyable…Forthenon-academicreader,anyhistorybookhastobefirstandforemostreadableandthisonemostcertainlyis.DarwinhastakenthehugesubjectoftheBritishEmpireandbrokenitdownintoaseriesofthemedchaptersthatmakesitaccessibleandenjoyablereading.Forexample,onechapterisdevotedtoTrafficandTrade,whileanotherdiscussesRulingMethods.ThismethodallowsDarwintoshowhowsimilaritiesanddifferencesintheapproachtocontrollingtheempiredependedonlocalcircumstances;andtogiveaveryclearpictureoftheglobalandhistoricalcontext,placingtheBritishEmpireasoneofalineofempiresthathaverisenandfallenthroughouthistory.Infact,whileobviouslythebookisprimarilyabouttheBritishEmpire,itsscopeandclarityofpresentationmademefeelalmostasifIwerereadingahistoryoftheworldoverthelast500years.Darwintriessuccessfullyonthewholetomaintainaneutralstanceontheethicsofempire;ifheistakingapositionatall,itisthattheempirewassodifferentiatedandcameaboutforsuchcomplexhistoricalreasonsthattoarguethatitwasinsomewayanevilaberrationisoverlysimplistic.Insteadheshows,withgreatlucidityandconsiderabledepth,thewho,why,where,whenandhow;andthenleavesthereader,armedwiththatinformation,toconsiderwhethertheeffectswereallbad,allgoodorsomewherein-between.IfIhadanycriticism,itwouldbethatatpointsIwantedmapsasavisualprompttoshowthereachofboththeformalandinformalareasofinfluenceatdifferentpointsinhistory–themapsincludedwereinteresting,butconcentratedmoreonspecifics,likeshippingroutesordistributionofmilitaryresources.Darwinsuggeststhatlookingatthebrightredzonesonmapsgivesamisleadingpictureoftheempireandhehaspersuadedmeofthat,butforthoseofuswhocanneverquiterememberwhere,say,Borneoactuallyis,theydohelp!Howeverthatisaverysmallcriticismofwhatisanexcellentbook,thoroughlyenjoyableandimmenselyedifying,thathasleftmeverymuchbetterinformedaboutthepoliticalandhistoricalcontext,theriseanddecline,andtheglobalimpactofandontheempire–highlyrecommended.NBThisbookwasprovidedforreviewbyAmazonVineUK. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Jan08,2014 Marks54 ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Thisreviewhasbeenhiddenbecauseitcontainsspoilers.Toviewit, clickhere. ThisisthethirdofJohnDarwin'sbooksthatIhaveread.Thefirsttwo-TheEmpireProjectandAfterTamerlane-weresuperb.DarwinwritesabouttheBritishEmpireandaboutempiresingeneral."UnfinishedEmpire"isabookabouthowtheBritishEmpireoperated.Itisnotjustanhistoricalaccountbyamoresystematiccomparativestudy.Darwinaccomplishesthisthroughhisperspectivethatthe"BritishEmpire"actuallyembodiedawiderangeofactions,structures,rationales,andoutcomes, ThisisthethirdofJohnDarwin'sbooksthatIhaveread.Thefirsttwo-TheEmpireProjectandAfterTamerlane-weresuperb.DarwinwritesabouttheBritishEmpireandaboutempiresingeneral."UnfinishedEmpire"isabookabouthowtheBritishEmpireoperated.Itisnotjustanhistoricalaccountbyamoresystematiccomparativestudy.Darwinaccomplishesthisthroughhisperspectivethatthe"BritishEmpire"actuallyembodiedawiderangeofactions,structures,rationales,andoutcomes,suchthatitisdifficulttospeakaboutasingleuniformentitybutratherasetofmultipleempiresthatdevelopedindifferenttimesandcontextsandthusenableathoroughcomparativestudy.Mostofthechaptersaredevotedtoexaminationsofdifferenttopicsallrelatedaroundthenotionofhowtheempireactuallyworked(ordidnotwork).Thisalsoinvolvesconsideringwhythesedifferentempirescameintoexistence-whatthepoliticalandeconomicrationaleswere.Thesechaptersareexceptionalandthebookisfilledwithinsightsthatarebothsurprisingandmemorable.OfparticularinterestishisconsiderationofhowthecrisisintheAmericancoloniesandthelossoftheUnitedStatesfitintothebroaderhistoryoftheempire,includingitsgreatexpansionintoIndiainthe19thcentury.Thelaterchapterschroniclethedeclineoftheempirethroughthetwo20thcenturyworldwarsandintotheperiodofdecolonization.Initsexecution,thebookiswellwrittenandresearched.Whatismostappealingtomeisthewiseandbalancedperspectivethatisondisplaythroughthebook.TheBritishEmpirehascomeinforalotofcriticismlately,muchofitjustified.Darwinisunsparinginbringingoutthesecriticismsoftheempirebutatthesametimetrieshardtoweightheprosandconsofeacharea,ofteninconsiderabledetail.Theconcludingchapter,summinguptheargumentandprovidingsometakeaways,ismasterful.Thisisaverygoodbookandanexampleoftheheightsthatcontemporaryhistorianscanreach. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Feb07,2022 Zo ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition AhelicoptertouroftheBritishempire,dealingwithitsdiffuselocalitiesanddisparatehistoriesinonesweepoftheconceptualbrush.Alas,IamnotsurethatisthebestwaytolearnaboutthehistoryoftheBritishempire.Thebookisfullofgeneralizationsunbackedbyanyparticulardataorsetofhistoricalincidents.ItisnotthatIdoubtthetruthofthegeneralizations,butthatproceedingfromgeneralizationtogeneralization,withoutsomeoverarchingargumentativeframework,isn AhelicoptertouroftheBritishempire,dealingwithitsdiffuselocalitiesanddisparatehistoriesinonesweepoftheconceptualbrush.Alas,IamnotsurethatisthebestwaytolearnaboutthehistoryoftheBritishempire.Thebookisfullofgeneralizationsunbackedbyanyparticulardataorsetofhistoricalincidents.ItisnotthatIdoubtthetruthofthegeneralizations,butthatproceedingfromgeneralizationtogeneralization,withoutsomeoverarchingargumentativeframework,isnotthemostcompellingwayofwritinghistory.Darwindoesdoagoodjobofshowingthemessinessoftheempire--howlittleofitsdirectionwasdeterminedfromonhighandhowmuchwasduetothewhimsoflocaltradewinds,settler'sidiosyncraticinterests,andothercircumstantialidiosyncrasy.Butthatisnotastartlingconclusion.Idon'tmeantobeentirelydisparagingbecausethereweremanyanecdotesandtellingofeventshereinIfoundinformative;butthelackofconceptualstructureforabookthatdealssomuchinabstractionishardtowrangle.Andinrelyingsomuchonabstraction,IworrythatDarwingetsawaywithglossingovertheuglinessofthishistory.HeacknowledgesBritishracismandcrueltyatmanypoints,andherightlycontextualizestheinterestsuponwhichcolonistsacted;buthedoesnotspendthatmuchtimeactuallyrecountingthetalesof,orprovidingstatisticsabout,themanyatrocitiesthatarepartofthishistory.Idon'tthinkthiswasinsidious.Partoftheexplanationisthatthisbooksimplywasmorefocusedonhowempirewasmanaged,asapoliticalproject,fromtheBritishperspective.ButthebookdoespurporttobeasinglevolumeoverviewoftheBritishempire--itcouldhavedwelledwithinthedarkcornersofitsinglorioushistoryabitmore. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview May04,2018 ChenAnnSiew ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Fascinatingread.AnexcellentanalysisofthemakinganddismantlingoftheBritishEmpire,withchaptersorganisedinaneasy-to-readmanner,i.e.methodsofrule,trade,resolvingconflictetc.Fewlearningpoints:(i)inter-statecompetitionforresourceswithinEuropepreparedtheconditionsforthebuildingofanEmpire,(ii)thebattleofTrafalgarensuredBritishdominanceinnavalpowerforessentiallythenextcentury,(iii)WW2catalysedthedemiseoftheBritishEmpireasaglobalsu Fascinatingread.AnexcellentanalysisofthemakinganddismantlingoftheBritishEmpire,withchaptersorganisedinaneasy-to-readmanner,i.e.methodsofrule,trade,resolvingconflictetc.Fewlearningpoints:(i)inter-statecompetitionforresourceswithinEuropepreparedtheconditionsforthebuildingofanEmpire,(ii)thebattleofTrafalgarensuredBritishdominanceinnavalpowerforessentiallythenextcentury,(iii)WW2catalysedthedemiseoftheBritishEmpireasaglobalsuperpower,andthatitslongevityasaglobalpowerwasrelativelyshort-lived,arguablyfrom1820s-1945(thoughstilllongerthantheRussianSoviets),(iv)theBritishuseddifferentmethodsofruleacrossitscolonies,e.g.betweenwhitesettlercommunitiesinCanada,ANZ,SouthAfrica,vsIndia,vsEgyptandME,vsothercoloniesinAfrica,SEAetc,andthatflexibilityandadaptabilityprobablycontributedtotheEmpiressizeandlongevity,(v)Empiresriseandfallsincethebeginningoftime,despiteirrationaloptimismwithintheempiresespduringtheheightoftheirsuccesses,orperhapsitisthediminishedsenseofoptimismthereafterwhichfurthercatalyseseveryempire'sdownfall,nomatterwhatlingeringattemptstosavetheremnantsoftheempires.CouldthelongevityoftheBritishEmpirebesustainedforlongerthanwhatitwas?Perhaps,iftherewasn'tasecondworldwar.ButwastheWW2avoidable?Probablynot,sincetheexactnatureofcompetitioninEuropewaswhatpropelledBritaintobeaglobalsuperpowerinthefirstplace. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Dec27,2013 Mike ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition ThisisaboutasacademicabookasI'vereadsincecollege.Dense,far-reachingandambitious,UnfinishedEmpireattemptstooffersomethingofagrandunifyingtheorybehindtheriseandfalloftheBritishEmpire(1588-c1970).Inkeepingwithitssubjectmaterial,UnfinishedEmpireisnebulousattimes,andcanbedifficulttokeepupwith.DarwinbringstobearanenormousknowledgeofBritishhistory,andthedemandsonthereaderareconsiderableashejumpsfromIndiatoSouthAfricatoS ThisisaboutasacademicabookasI'vereadsincecollege.Dense,far-reachingandambitious,UnfinishedEmpireattemptstooffersomethingofagrandunifyingtheorybehindtheriseandfalloftheBritishEmpire(1588-c1970).Inkeepingwithitssubjectmaterial,UnfinishedEmpireisnebulousattimes,andcanbedifficulttokeepupwith.DarwinbringstobearanenormousknowledgeofBritishhistory,andthedemandsonthereaderareconsiderableashejumpsfromIndiatoSouthAfricatoSoutheastAsiatoNewZealandandelsewhere.UnfinishedEmpire’shighpointsinvolveIndia,andDarwin’scompellingassessmentofwhyitwassuchauniquesituationintermsofcolonialism,differentfromanyotheraspectoftheBritishEmpireorothersofthesamevintage.Englishcontroloverthesubcontinentwasrootedintheuseofnativelaws,spreadingrootsintothelegalandpoliticalsystemtoensurethesubordinationofthecountry,whilecannilyleavingthepeopleandtheirculturelargelyalone.Thiscouldeasilyhavebeenamulti-volumeset,andIthinkperhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterforit.ThedeclineoftheEmpire,tracedroughlyoverthefinalthirdofthebook,feelsrushed.InasensethattoomirrorsthehastenedcollapseofBritainasacolonialpowerafterWorldWarII,butIcouldn’thelpfeelingthatDarwin,havingmadehisoverallpoints,wasinahurrytogetusoutthedoorafterwards. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Nov01,2017 Shubhra ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: non-fiction Commerce!Christianity!Civilisation!Thisisveryinsightfulstuff–notjustforthosewhowerepartoftheerstwhilecoloniesbutforeveryone,toseehowcloselywhatweidentifyasWesterncivilisationreallyisallBritish.Anditisalldoneverydispassionately,withoutthetakingsides.ThoughitiscertainlyveryforgivingoftheBritish,especiallywhendealingwiththeirtreatmentofthepeopletheyencountered.Thereisthebroadsweep,theanalysis,thebringingittogetherwhichma Commerce!Christianity!Civilisation!Thisisveryinsightfulstuff–notjustforthosewhowerepartoftheerstwhilecoloniesbutforeveryone,toseehowcloselywhatweidentifyasWesterncivilisationreallyisallBritish.Anditisalldoneverydispassionately,withoutthetakingsides.ThoughitiscertainlyveryforgivingoftheBritish,especiallywhendealingwiththeirtreatmentofthepeopletheyencountered.Thereisthebroadsweep,theanalysis,thebringingittogetherwhichmakesforinterestingreading.However,anacknowledgementthatpeoplewereawfulandgreedy,thattheydideverythingintheirpowertocomeoutontop,thattheydestroyedcommunitiesandlivelihoodstogetrichandricher–someImperialguilt,sotospeak,wouldbegood.WhiletherearereferencestotherebeingaliberalagendaandcriticismofEmpireinBritain,therereallyisn’tanyofthatinthebook–allyougetisasummaryofhowthismadesensefortheBritishinthatcontext.Therearelotsofinterestingsnippetsthough–thatYalewasfoundedwiththeproceedsofatradingfortunemadeinMadras,forexample.OrthatLivingstone,actuallyjusthadoneconversiontohiscredit.Waseyeopeningtoknowsomuchofwhatwetakeforgrantedtoday,issonew–lessthan200yearsbackinsomecases,socontrivedandsofalseaswell.Propertyrights,legalprinciples,contracts,freetrade,itexistsonlybecauseitmadesensefortheEnglishatthatpoint.HowcriticalIndiawastotheBritishandtheextenttowhichthecountrysubsidizedBritain’sgrandexpansionistschemesinAsiaislaidoutsoclearly–notstuffthatoneencountersinourhistorybookstoooften!AndwhileitisastonishingreallytolookbackandseehowmuchBritainwasabletotakeover,notjustofcountriesandwealth,butalsoideasandinstitutions,ismatchedonlywiththespeedwithwhichitallwentwrongandcollapsedintheend. ...more flag Like  · seereview Sep10,2017 MeiMeiSam ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: history Thisreviewhasbeenhiddenbecauseitcontainsspoilers.Toviewit, clickhere. Accordingtotheinformationprovidedinthisbook,authoredbyaBritishHistoryProfessor,itseemsBritainhadplayedanimportantroleinescalatingboththeeconomycausedofitsinnovationundertheeraofIndustrialRevolutionandtherestoftheworldwerenotyetaccustomedtowhatwascalledthenewideaofexplorationofNewWorld.UndertheexploitationofnewlandswhichweretobeutilizedassugarcaneplantationscultivatedbytheAfricanslaves,thesewhitelandlordshadtremen Accordingtotheinformationprovidedinthisbook,authoredbyaBritishHistoryProfessor,itseemsBritainhadplayedanimportantroleinescalatingboththeeconomycausedofitsinnovationundertheeraofIndustrialRevolutionandtherestoftheworldwerenotyetaccustomedtowhatwascalledthenewideaofexplorationofNewWorld.UndertheexploitationofnewlandswhichweretobeutilizedassugarcaneplantationscultivatedbytheAfricanslaves,thesewhitelandlordshadtremendousincomebythechanceoftradingthroughouttheeraofcolonization.Colonizationhasbroughtthewholetopicouttotellthehistoricaltaleofhowthemodernworldisshapedunderthecontinuousinfluenceswhichweretheleftoverfromthesegmentofthecolonizationtale.Ourworldisthecongregationofvarietiesofthoughtsandfromthesethoughts,realityhasbeengeneratedasthewholesomecongregationofworldliness. ...more flag Like  · seereview Aug13,2018 Dilip ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: history Abookofbroadscopeandyetsignificantinitslevelofdetail.JohnDarwingivesusagreathistoricalperspectiveontheBritishempirethroughitsriseandfall.Hearguesthat,ratherthanafullydesignedapproachtoempire,theBritishpursuedempireusingincrementalandoftenaccidentalmethods.Further,hemanagestopaintafullpictureofhowvariousaspectsoftheBritishempireaffectedeachother.Forinstance,howtheNapoleonicwarsinEuropeplayedoutinthecolonies.Forpeop Abookofbroadscopeandyetsignificantinitslevelofdetail.JohnDarwingivesusagreathistoricalperspectiveontheBritishempirethroughitsriseandfall.Hearguesthat,ratherthanafullydesignedapproachtoempire,theBritishpursuedempireusingincrementalandoftenaccidentalmethods.Further,hemanagestopaintafullpictureofhowvariousaspectsoftheBritishempireaffectedeachother.Forinstance,howtheNapoleonicwarsinEuropeplayedoutinthecolonies.Forpeoplelikemyselfwhowerebornandgrewupinex-colonies,BritishrulehasamuchmorehorrificandracistimagethanwhatDarwincommunicateshere.Frommyperspective,Darwin'stoneistoomutedwhenhespeaksofthevariousatrocitiescommittedincoloniesliketheCaribbean,Africa,IndiaandAustralia.However,Iwasabletoputthatnaggingfeelingasideformostofthebookandenjoyafascinatinghistoricalreadthatamountstoaworldhistoryofthelast400years. ...more flag Like  · seereview Jul17,2018 Jemma ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition AnexcellentaccountofthewholeofthehistoryoftheBritishEmpire,fromoneofthereputablehistoriansofmyundergraduatedays.Fair,frankandthorough.Alsoaninterestingtitleforanyonewho'sfamiliarwiththisareaandrecogniseshowramschackletheEmpireactuallywas.ArevieweronAmazondismissedthisas"ToryHistory"andapologist,soIdidapproachthebookwithalittletrepidation.However,thereviewerclearlyhasn'treadthisbookasDarwinprettymuchcoversallthebad AnexcellentaccountofthewholeofthehistoryoftheBritishEmpire,fromoneofthereputablehistoriansofmyundergraduatedays.Fair,frankandthorough.Alsoaninterestingtitleforanyonewho'sfamiliarwiththisareaandrecogniseshowramschackletheEmpireactuallywas.ArevieweronAmazondismissedthisas"ToryHistory"andapologist,soIdidapproachthebookwithalittletrepidation.However,thereviewerclearlyhasn'treadthisbookasDarwinprettymuchcoversallthebadstuff.IthinktheonlyweakaspectishisattitudetowardsMissionaries,whoarehardlycriticised,perhapsbecauseoftheauthor'sreligiousbeliefs.Whichisashame,asotherwisehissectiononmissionariesisprettygood.Especiallytherevelation(tomeatleast)ofwhodidanddidn'tbecomemissionariesandwhy. ...more flag Like  · seereview Apr24,2018 Hundeschlitten ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition PickedthisupwhileonvacationatthebookexchangeofourPalmSpringsresort.Expectedtoskimandquicklyreturnit.Instead,Ireaditfromcovertocoveroverthecourseofamonth.Athorough,convincingportraitoftheBritishEmpire.Iparticularlylikedthefirst120pages,whereDarwinlaysoutthebroadconceptsthatenabledandjustifiedEmpire,inparticularhowbothknowledgeandcapitalacquisitioninwhatbecameknownastheCityinLondonfueledthisdynamo.Straight-forwarda PickedthisupwhileonvacationatthebookexchangeofourPalmSpringsresort.Expectedtoskimandquicklyreturnit.Instead,Ireaditfromcovertocoveroverthecourseofamonth.Athorough,convincingportraitoftheBritishEmpire.Iparticularlylikedthefirst120pages,whereDarwinlaysoutthebroadconceptsthatenabledandjustifiedEmpire,inparticularhowbothknowledgeandcapitalacquisitioninwhatbecameknownastheCityinLondonfueledthisdynamo.Straight-forwardandanalytical,withoutwallowinginthebackwatersofrevisionistmoralizing,itwaseye-openingforme,amostlyenjoyableprimeronthesubjectofempireingeneralanditsBritishmanifestationsinparticular. ...more flag Like  · seereview Jan26,2019 MPereira ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: colonialism, imperialism, british-empire, british-history ThisisabookanyoneshouldreadwhotakesaninterestinthenotionofBritishnessasitispoliticisedtoday.Thereisnosuchthingasavalue-freejudgementofhistorywhenitcomestotheUK'scolonialhistory.Muchofithasimplicationstopresentday,notjustinthejingoism,butthecolonialterritorieswerecededaslateas1997.Thiswasaheavygoingbookandtookafewre-readsofpages.Itisparticularlypoignanttoreadin2019astheUKpondersontheBrexitdealandhardbrexi ThisisabookanyoneshouldreadwhotakesaninterestinthenotionofBritishnessasitispoliticisedtoday.Thereisnosuchthingasavalue-freejudgementofhistorywhenitcomestotheUK'scolonialhistory.Muchofithasimplicationstopresentday,notjustinthejingoism,butthecolonialterritorieswerecededaslateas1997.Thiswasaheavygoingbookandtookafewre-readsofpages.Itisparticularlypoignanttoreadin2019astheUKpondersontheBrexitdealandhardbrexiterswithandtheriseofthefarrightappealtounquestionedassumptionsaboutwhattheUK'spastlookedlike.Historyisasumofnarrativesanditisneverdead.Thisisabookthatshowstherelevancetothepresentday,andhowtheexpansionmindsetisnottoofaraway. ...more flag Like  · seereview May11,2021 John ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Anastonishingwork.Theauthormanagestocoverthewholebreadthanddepthofthisfranklyenormoussubject.Eachofthe456pagesischockfullofdetailandwellresearchedfact,andheldmyinterestthroughout.Wellwritten,fullofsurprises,finallyanauthorcoversthissubjectinanhonestandbalancedway,steeringclearofjumpingonanypreviousorcurrentbandwagons.Abrilliantwork. flag Like  · seereview Apr09,2018 Terry ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Okaybook;kindofdisappointed.WasexpectingahistoryoftheBritishempireandwhiletheauthordidthat,mostofthebookwasn'treallyorganizedasahistory,mostlyonthemesinsteadofanytimeline.Thefirstchapterandthelasttwochaptersweremuchmoreconventionalandmucheasiertoreadandfollow,buttherestofthebookwasajumble. Okaybook;kindofdisappointed.WasexpectingahistoryoftheBritishempireandwhiletheauthordidthat,mostofthebookwasn'treallyorganizedasahistory,mostlyonthemesinsteadofanytimeline.Thefirstchapterandthelasttwochaptersweremuchmoreconventionalandmucheasiertoreadandfollow,buttherestofthebookwasajumble. ...more flag Like  · seereview Sep24,2019 DavidBlankenship ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition AfascinatingandinformativelookintohowandwhyBritaindevelopedanempire,,howtheyranit,andhowitwasinevitablethatitended.Thescopeofhistoryandpoliticsandinternationalrelationstheauthorworkedwithwasimpressive,andwhilenotaneasyreaditwasstillreadable. flag Like  · seereview Oct18,2020 Paul ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Withoutpointlessapologiesnormallypepperingthesetopics,summaryoftheprocessofbuildingandcollapseoftheBritishempire.Thecollapsepartwasabitrushed-Iguessbothinrealityandinthebook. flag Like  · seereview Feb19,2021 PaulGriesbach ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Doyouwanttoknowandtrulyunderstandhowatinytinyislandbecameanempire?UnfinishedEmpirewillcarryyoudowntheroadsoftheempirewhethertheybemadeofsand,river,jungle,orwoodlandstouncovertheanswers.Youmaybesurprisedatwhatyoudiscover. flag Like  · seereview Jun14,2017 Anna ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Verygoodtop-downlookatBritishimperialism.Thefirstandfinalchaptersareparticularlyuseful. flag Like  · seereview Oct27,2017 AmrySaja ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition WellIcannotsayIamnothappywiththebookbutonecommentonlythatIfeltquietdryafterhalfofbooksbutoverallprovideyouwithmanysourcesandinsight flag Like  · seereview Dec31,2018 TonyGoriainoff iscurrentlyreadingit  ·  reviewofanotheredition GiftfromPatty.Christmas2018.Clifton,Oxfordshire flag Like  · seereview Jan21,2020 JamesLutz markeditasto-read  ·  reviewofanotheredition Excellentbibliographybysubject. flag Like  · seereview May08,2021 AJ ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition 09:5505/08/21AudioMiddlebury,VTLearnedalotbutit’sessentiallyjustatextbookgoingthroughthehistoryoftheBritishempirenotreallyanystorytomakeitinteresting. flag Like  · seereview Mar01,2017 EleniCharalambous ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: books-i-read-for-uni “Thebookisdividedintothematicchapters,coveringsuchtopicsasfirstcontact,possession,settlingandfighting,andtherolesofcommerce,rebellion,andreligion”,notesDuncanBell,whichisaveryaptdescriptionofthestructureofthebook.Intwelvechapters,JohnDarwinmanagestoexploretheinnerworkingsoftheBritishEmpire,spanningthroughoutthreecenturiesinaverydetailedandinformedmanner.“Whatreadersareoffered”,mentionsAnthonyHortoninaveryaccuratestateme “Thebookisdividedintothematicchapters,coveringsuchtopicsasfirstcontact,possession,settlingandfighting,andtherolesofcommerce,rebellion,andreligion”,notesDuncanBell,whichisaveryaptdescriptionofthestructureofthebook.Intwelvechapters,JohnDarwinmanagestoexploretheinnerworkingsoftheBritishEmpire,spanningthroughoutthreecenturiesinaverydetailedandinformedmanner.“Whatreadersareoffered”,mentionsAnthonyHortoninaveryaccuratestatement,“isatremendousworkofsynthesis,basedonimmenseeruditionandpenetratinganalysis”.TheauthorprovidesanobjectiveviewontheBritishEmpire,freefromtheusualprejudicesagainstimperialismthatotherworksmaypresent,inawell-structuredwork.Heprovidesdetailednotesonhissecondarysourcesandfurtherreadingonwhathealreadypresented.Itis,overall,averyinterestingtakeontheBritishEmpireandtheprocessofcolonisation,mentioningnotonlyitsdeficiencies,butalsothewaysinwhichBritainattemptedtoresolvethem.Itisabookthatprovidesknowledgeinanobjectiveway,employinglanguagethatcanbeeasilyunderstood. ...more flag Like  · seereview «previous123next» newtopicDiscussThisBook Therearenodiscussiontopicsonthisbookyet. Bethefirsttostartone» Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres History 185users Nonfiction 53users Politics 18users EuropeanLiterature> BritishLiterature 16users History> WorldHistory 9users History> EuropeanHistory 7users Cultural> Africa 4users Cultural> India 4users Earth> TheWorld 3users War 3users Seetopshelves… AboutJohnDarwin JohnDarwin 55 followers GarethJohnDarwin,CBE,FBA,isaBritishhistorianwhofrom1984to2019wastheBeitLecturerinCommonwealthHistoryattheUniversityofOxfordandaFellowofNuffieldCollege,Oxford.PriortohisappointmenttherehewasalecturerinhistoryattheUniversityofReadingbetween1972and1984. BooksbyJohnDarwin More… News&InterviewsReadonTheme:TitlesofLifeandDeath Inthislatestinstallmentofoursemi-regularThemedReadingadventureseries,wetackletheheaviestthemeofall:LifeandDeath!   It’snot...Readmore...19likes·3comments Quotesfrom未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張 “Sincehistorieswerefirstwritten,theaimofthewriterhasinvariablybeento‘correct’ourviewofthepast,andtoalignitmorecloselywiththewriter’sviewofthepresent,andthewayitwasreached.” — 1likes “theBritishruledIndia(population250millions)withanadministrativecadreofunder1,000.” — 0likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.