Download or read book The Rise and Fall of the British Empire written by Lawrence James and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 1997-09-15 with total page 720 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Great Britain's geopolitical role has undergone many changes over the last four centuries. Once a maritime superpower and ruler of half the world, Britain now occupies an isolated position as an economically fragile island often at odds with her European neighbors. In The Rise and Fall of the British Empire, Lawrence James has written a comprehensive, perceptive, and insightful history of the British Empire. Spanning the years from 1600 to the present day, this critically acclaimed book combines detailed scholarship with readable popular history. “This is a stylish, intelligent and readable book.” —The New York Times Book Review