The twentieth century witnessed an unprecedented growth of research and publication on the history of Britain's empire, the Commonwealth, and British expansion overseas. Historical work by area specialists has transformed the state of knowledge concerning colonial North America, India, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, the Pacific, and Australasia. Much has been written about Britain's interests and presence in areas and societies never formally subjected to British rule, such as Latin America, and the Middle and Far East. Most recently, a preoccupation with the reciprocal impact of overseas expansion and colonial possessions on Britain itself has produced a rapidly growing historiography. Publication on this scale has made it virtually impossible for anyone either to keep track of the results or to follow up particular interests. Britain's overseas history has never been well supplied with comprehensive bibliographical aids, and, despite extensive public interest in the subject, the position has steadily worsened. Following the recent Oxford History of the British Empire, this volume is therefore designed to provide a general source of reference and bibliographical guidance, at once wide-ranging, up-to-date, and accessible.
