Written by a member of the last generation of British Colonial Service Officers in Africa, the book seeks to place both colonial rulers and their African successors in the context of history and the circumstances of their time, viewing their achievements and failures critically but not unsympathetically and comparing colonial society with that of the independent African country that Northern Rhodesia has become. Colonialism is viewed at the day to day level of the administration of a rural district by four officers and a handful of African district messengers, who worked together without even a telephone to assist them. With a wealth of detail that can only come from experience, Grant's work makes an important contribution to the understanding of a time, place, period and practices that are only now being considered in a balanced way.

About the Author

William Grant studied History at Edinburgh University, Scotland, and was, from 1958 to 1961, one of the last generation of British Colonial Service Officers in what was then Northern Rhodesia. After leaving the service, he has taught History, Economics and Politics in Scotland, Canada, China and Switzerland.

Reviews

'This is, in many ways, a valuable book, giving insights meaningful and important to
understanding today's Africa' - Stephen Haines, The OSCAR, January 2008

'...Mr.Grant has produced a very readable and interesting book...' - Richard Davenport, Zambian Traveller, January 2009

Book Information
ISBN 9781138789456
Author William Grant
Format Paperback
Page Count 310
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 476g