THE LAST THOUSAND DAYS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

An account of the British Empire’s abrupt decline in influence around the globe following World War II.

Clarke (Modern British History/Cambridge Univ.; Hope and Glory: Britain 1900–2000, 2004, etc.) takes a look at the pivotal events that shaped Great Britain’s fortunes following the nationwide jubilation of 1945 and also examines how America evolved into a worldwide superpower. The “thousand days” of the title covers a stretch between 1944 and 1947. The author presents a clear, detailed account of events, casting Winston Churchill as the key figure at the center of Britain’s postwar misfortunes. A brief prologue outlines how Britain headed into shaky economic territory during the war, with huge debts accrued in Churchill’s valiant effort to emerge victorious from battle. Then, drawing on disclosures from diaries belonging to figures such as Churchill’s Assistant Private Secretary, Sir John Colville, and the former prime minister’s personal physician, Lord Moran, as well as information drawn from contemporary newspapers, Clarke examines how Anglo-American relations fractured in the postwar era. In particular, he frequently returns to the Lend-Lease agreement, which was set up so the United States could provide the allied nations with various wartime supplies. The complications inherent in such a deal helped trigger the enormous friction between the two countries once the war ended. America was no longer willing to loan vast sums of money unless its allies pulled out of India and Palestine; this, in turn, led to the dissolution of the British Empire. Clarke concludes by recalling the negotiations that led to Britain’s loss of India, offering some enlightening details on Gandhi’s involvement in the process. There are few revelations here, although the author occasionally fleshes out a familiar story with amusing anecdotes, such as those about Churchill’s frequently erratic behavior during important meetings.

A fairly perfunctory overview, but sufficiently engaging and well-written. For a more lively, probing social history, see David Kynaston’s Austerity Britain: 1945–51 (2008).