<div><div>This fascinating and highly useful book examines the rise of the British empire and the various debates among historians of imperialism over the past two hundred years. It discusses why the empire is so attractive to historians, why there is so much debate and controversy surrounding the subject, and how different generations of historians have read the various episodes in the history of the empire often radically differently.<br><br>An engaging and useful work of historiography, this book will be essential reading for students of British imperialism attempting to get to grips with the subject.<br></div></div>