Lawrence James’s Followers (69)

Lawrence James

Born

in Bath, Somerset, England

May 26, 1943

Genre

History, Biography

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Edwin James Lawrence, most commonly known as Lawrence James, is an English historian and writer.

James graduated with a BA in English & History from the University of York in 1966, and subsequently undertook a research degree at Merton College, Oxford. Following a career as a teacher, James became a full-time writer in 1985.

James has written several works of popular history about the British Empire, and has contributed pieces for Daily Mail, The Times and the Literary Review.

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Lawrence James’s books

Average rating: 4.0 · 4,286 ratings · 378 reviews · 67 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Rise and Fall of the British Empire 3.93 avg rating — 1,564 ratings — published 1994 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India 3.81 avg rating — 791 ratings — published 1997 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Empires in the Sun: The Struggle for the Mastery of Africa 3.61 avg rating — 294 ratings — published 2016 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Aristocrats: Power, Grace, and Decadence: Britain's Great Ruling Classes from 1066 to the Present 3.42 avg rating — 186 ratings — published 2010 — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Churchill and Empire: A Portrait of an Imperialist 3.63 avg rating — 131 ratings — published 2013 — 27 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Lion and the Dragon: Britain and China: A History of Conflict 3.87 avg rating — 77 ratings — published 2023 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Warrior Race: A History of the British at War 3.79 avg rating — 77 ratings — published 2001 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Golden Warrior: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia 3.47 avg rating — 78 ratings — published 1994 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Iron Duke: A military biography of Wellington 3.67 avg rating — 49 ratings — published 1992 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Middle Class: A History 4.07 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2006 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Lawrence James (?)

“This coup de main gave Morgan the means to make himself a Jamaican planter
and to secure a knighthood, respectability and the governorship of the colony. It
also, like Drake’s similar exploits a hundred years before, made a deep impression
on the public imagination and reinforced that popular image of distant lands as
places where quick fortunes were waiting for the energetic and ruthless.”
― Lawrence James, The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

tags: british-empire, knighthood, land-of-opportunity, new-world

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“One thing was clear to the ministers and civil servants who framed these policies: Britain’s colonies and the new transatlantic commerce they were generating were a vital national asset to be coveted, protected and extended, if necessary by aggression.”
― Lawrence James, The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

tags: british-empire, colony

1 likes

“Cleon, who, in the fifth century BC, had reminded the citizens of another imperial power, Athens, that ‘a democracy is incapable of empire’. ‘Your empire’, he continued, ‘is a despotism and your subjects disaffected conspirators, whose obedience is ensured not by your suicidal concessions,”
― Lawrence James, The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

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Polls

Which book would you like to read for our September 15 - October 15 European Royalty group read?

Devil Water by Anya Seton

14 votes, 41.2%

Virgin Earth A Novel by Philippa Gregory

10 votes, 29.4%

Raj The Making and Unmaking of British India by Lawrence James

6 votes, 17.6%

King Leopold's Ghost A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild

4 votes, 11.8%

34 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
100+ Books in 2025: Alan's 2010 List	127	200	Dec 15, 2010 04:46AM
The History Book ...: ARCHIVE TWO: PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF ~	6144	5119	Sep 19, 2015 03:18AM
The History Book ...: GLOSSARY - STAYING ON - THE RAJ QUARTET SERIES~ (Spoiler Thread)	88	312	Jul 11, 2016 08:32PM
The History Book ...: * EMPIRE AND SEA POWER	94	402	Apr 02, 2018 12:35AM
The History Book ...: * INTRODUCTION	105	504	Aug 18, 2019 01:24PM
The History Book ...: SPOTLIGHTED BOOK - THE BRITISH ARE COMING: - BIBLIOGRAPHY - THE WAR FOR AMERICA, LEXINGTON TO PRINCETON, 1775-1777 (THE REVOLUTION TRILOGY #1) (Spoiler Thread)	77	74	Jun 16, 2020 05:29PM
The History Book ...: BIBLIOGRAPHY - STAYING ON - THE RAJ QUARTET SERIES~ (Spoiler Thread)	43	219	Aug 10, 2020 01:43PM

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Lawrence James’s Followers (69)

Lawrence James

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