"‘Breathtaking… A sensible and civilized view of imperial decline, nostalgic, regretful of some things, honest, justly proud, and curiously contented’ NEW STATESMAN
'The British Empire is fortunate in having found in Morris a chronicler and memorialist who can do it justice. Although it is a sad story, the telling of it is marvellously vigorous and compelling. Morris, like Edward Gibbon, writes with an inspired gusto, firmly rooted in erudition which carries the book into the realms of literature.' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH"