Who killed the British Empire? Why did history s largest imperial system collapse dramatically in the years following the Second World War? The book opens in 1930 with the Empire at the point of its greatest expansion. Unexpectedly, three events in that year were to have a cataclysmic effect and start the Empire on an irreversible decline Gandhi s Salt March, the surrender of Weihaiwei to the Chinese nationalists, and the negotiations leading to the Statue of Westminster, in which Canada was the leading advocate of dominion progress towards virtual independence. Gorge Woodcock is the author or editor of more than 40 books. He has received three honorary degrees and numerous fellowships and awards, including the Molson Prize and the Governor General s Award for Literature."

Author Biography

George Woodcock was born in Winnipeg in 1912but grew up in Britain, where he was educated at an ancient English grammar school. He did not attend university, and had a variety of occupations, including farm labourer, plasterer s mate, and printer, before establishing himself as a writer and subsequently as a university lecturer. Since 1949 he has lived in British Columbia and for many years taught at the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia, but now devotes himself full time to editing and writing. He has received three honorary degrees and numerous fellowships and awards, including the Molson Prize, the Governor General s Award for Literature, and the University of British Columbia Medal for Popular Biography."