The pre-war empire had been sufficiently informal and sufficiently cheap for Parliament to claim authority over it without having to concern itself too much about what this authority entailed. The post-war empire necessitated a much greater investment in administrative machinery… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
In the last quarter of the 20th century, Britons have been understandably obsessed with the problem of having too little power in the world. In the third quarter of the 18th century, by contrast, their forebears were perplexed by the… — 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
