British culture and the end of empire / edited by Stuart Ward.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Ward, Stuart, editor.

Series:

Studies in imperialism (Manchester, England)

Studies in imperialism

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Postcolonialism--Commonwealth countries.

Postcolonialism.

Decolonization--History.

Decolonization.

Imperialism--History.

Imperialism.

Great Britain--Civilization--20th century.

Great Britain.

Great Britain--Colonies--History--20th century.

Commonwealth countries--History.

Commonwealth countries.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 241 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2001.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

The demise of British imperial power in the three decades following the Second World War is a familiar theme in the study of post-war British politics, economics and foreign relations. This book is the first major attempt to examine the cultural manifestations of the demise of imperialism as a social and political ideology in post-war Britain. It stresses and strains of imperial decline were not safely contained within the realm of high politics. British governments had to steer a delicate course between a firm display of British authority and control. The book begins with an overview of the persistence of imperialism in popular culture in the post-1945 era. Although an elitist and unashamedly 'establishment' grouping, the Round Table had always been actively engaged in the wider dissemination of an imperial outlook. The Commonwealth anaesthetic was at its most effective at the time of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in June 1953. The book then examines the remarkable coincidence of the coronation and the conquest of Everest, an event that became heavily imbued with late imperial hubris. An account of the complex picture of a British theatre, post-war cultural scene, the anti-establishment sentiment, and the shortcomings of Britain's ruling elites, follows. The book also examines Britain's steadily dwindling imperial power was mirrored by the demise of English cricket. The culture of imperial decline, namely that of popular children's literature is discussed. The book talks about the nostalgic trail of post-imperial British travellers, immigration divide, and the relationship between western feminism and colonial nationalism.

Contents:

AcknowledgementsGeneral editor's introductionIntroduction1. The persistence of empire in metropolitan culture

John M. Mackenzie2. Empire loyalists and 'Commonwealth men': The round table and the end of empire

Alex May3. Coronation Everest: empire and commonwealth in the 'second Elizabethan age'

Peter H. Hansen4. Look back at empire: British theatre and imperial decline

Dan Rebellato5. 'No nation could be broker': The satire boom and the demise of Britain's world role

Stuart Ward6. The imperial game in crisis: English cricket and decolonisation

Mike Cronin and Richard Holt7. Imperial heroes for a post-imperial age: Films and the end of empire

Jeffrey Richards8. Imperial legacies, new frontiers: Children's popular literature and the demise of empire

Cathryn Castle9. Wandering in the wake of empire: British travel and tourism in the post-imperial world

Hsu-Ming Teo10. Communities of Britishness: Migration in the last gasp of empire

Kathleen Paul11. South Asians in post-imperial Britain: Decolonisation and the imperial legacy

Shompa Lahiri12. India, Inc.?: Nostalgia, memory and the empire of things

Antoinette BurtonNotes on contributors

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 30 Mar 2026).

Restricted: Printing from this resource is governed by The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK) and UK copyright law currently in force.

OCLC:

1507867919