Imperialism at Bay: The United States and the Decolonization of the British Empire, 1941-1945

by William Roger Louis

This book examines the wartime controversies between Britain and America about the future of the colonial world, and considers the ethical, military, and economic forces behind imperialism during World War II. It concludes that, for Britain, there was a revival of the sense of colonial mission; the Americans, on the other hand, felt justified in creating a strategic fortress in the Pacific Islands while carrying the torch of "international trusteeship" throughout the rest of the world--a scheme that Churchill and others viewed as a cloak for American expansion.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

616 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1978

About the author

William Roger Louis CBE FBA, also known as Wm. Roger Louis, or Roger Louis, informally, is an American historian, currently distinguished historian at the University of Texas at Austin. Louis is the Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford History of the British Empire, the former President of the American Historical Association, the former Chairman of the Department of State Historical Advisory Committee, and the Founding Director of the American Historical Association's National History Center in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Benemint]

This is a classic of diplomatic history of this era. Very old-fashioned stories of and interactions between diplomats and politicians. I can totally tell that Louis had so much fun and pleasure writing the stories, but the lack of clear arguments and themes make it difficult for the reader to consume the book. Use this as a reference book and find chapters important to you, rather than read from the beginning till the end.