Description
The organized study of history began in Britain when the Empire was at its height. Belief in the destiny of imperial England profoundly shaped the imagination of the first generation of professional historians. But with the Empire ended, do these mental habits still haunt historical explanation?
Drawing on postcolonial theory in a lively mix of historical and theoretical chapters, The Expansion of England explores the history of the British Empire and the practice of historical enquiry itself. There are essays on Asia, Australasia, the West Indies, South Africa and Britain. Examining the sexual, racial and ethnic identities shaping the experiences of English men and women in the nineteenth century, the authors argue that habits of thought forged in the Empire still give meaning to English identities today.
About the Author
Bill Schwarz is Reader in Communications and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths College. He has coedited On Ideology (1978), Making Histories (1982), and Crises in the British State, 1880-1930 (1985), and he is on the editorial collectives of History Workshop Journal and Cultural Studies.
Book Information
ISBN 9780415060264
Author Bill Schwarz
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 408g
