Updated to incorporate a substantial new epilogue considering Brexit and its ‘imperial’ implications, the sixth edition of The Lion’s Share remains an essential introduction to British imperialism from its Victorian heyday to the present. Well-known for its vigorous and readable style, this book presents a broad narrative of events and explores a number of general themes, challenging more conventional and popular interpretations of British imperialism, as well as the simplistic ‘for’ and ‘against’ arguments put forward in today’s ‘history wars’. Bernard Porter sees imperialism as a symptom not of Britain's strength in the world, but of her decline, and he argues that the empire itself both aggravated and obscured deep-seated malaise in the British economy. This sixth edition includes a final epilogue that engages with what Brexit means for British Imperial History, and whether it represents an extension of or final conclusion to Britain’s Imperial Career. In so doing, the book offers readers a thorough understanding of the history of British imperialism and its heritage, extending right into the present day. Supported by maps, images and an updated chronology, The Lion’s Share is the perfect resource for both students and those interested in British and Imperial History from the Victorian era to the modern day.

This textbook combines a lively narrative of events with a number of broad analytical themes that challenge more conventional interpretations of British imperialism. It includes a new concluding section on the legacy of empire.

As well as presenting a lively narrative of events, Bernard Porter explores a number of broad analytical themes, challenging more conventional and popular interpretations. He sees imperialism as a symptom not of Britain's strength in the world, but of her decline; and he argues that the empire itself both aggravated and obscured deep-seated malaise in the British economy.

A milestone in the understanding of British history and imperialism, and truly global in its reach, this magisterial account received numerous accolades from reviewers in its first edition. The first to coin the phrase "gentlemanly capitalism", Cain and Hopkins make the strong and provocative argument that it is impossible to understand the nature and evolution of British imperialism without taking account of the peculiarities of her economic development. In particular, the growth of the financial sector - and above all, the City of London - played a crucial role in shaping the course of British history and Britain's relations overseas. Now with a substantive new introduction and a conclusion, the scope of the original account has been widened to include an innovative discussion of globalization.