In both British and American history, fervent imperialism has always coexisted with bouts of fierce isolationism. — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
In the U.S., highly selective renditions of its history have served in practice to impose blinkers on some of its citizens and… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Much of how Americans have always understood their history, culture, and identity depends on positioning Europe as the 'other,' as that 'old… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
There can never be a single, satisfactory comprehensive account of the 'history of the British empire.' — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Governments should encourage and facilitate the teaching of history, but one does not want them to be able to dictate, for political… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Contrary to received wisdom, the British are not an insular people in the conventional sense - far from it. For most of… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
In Britain, British history is naturally a mainstream subject. Step outside your own narrow specialism, and you can find yourself treading on… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Human beings are many-layered creatures, and do not succumb to the hegemony of others as easily as historians and politicians sometimes imply.… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Empire in the past was always a far harsher and much more accident-prone business than conventional history books imply. And the costs… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Britain, like other European states, is not and never will again be in the top-world-power league, so its male leaders can afford to play… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Hillary Clinton is tough, clever, and formidably well briefed, and has been politically ambitious all her adult life. — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
In Great Britain, woman was subordinate and confined. But at least she was also safe. — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Once conscription was introduced during the First World War, and once Britain's wars ceased being confined to the empire or to continental Europe and… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Virtually every war fought since the Act of Union had gone badly at some stage, but before 1783 none had ended in defeat. Nor… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Traditionally, royal females who have not had the luck to become queens regnant have been granted very limited roles. They have been expected to… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Never fly to the U.S. the day before Thanksgiving or the weekend after because every airport is guaranteed to be crammed to bursting with… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Men and women do not live by bread alone. They also need sustaining ideas. — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
High-level political wives are by no means new. In the 18th and 19th centuries, when patricians dominated British political life, it was common for… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Governments should encourage and facilitate the teaching of history, but one does not want them to be able to dictate, for political or partisan… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Although Britain has, since 1653, had nothing approaching a single, codified constitution, it did for a very long time possess a broad cult of… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
Even at its most powerful, Britain always needed alliances with other European states. There would almost certainly have been no British victory at Waterloo,… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
