Empire and Imperial Ambition

Book excerpt: The late nineteenth century is generally thought of as a period of fervent imperial enthusiasm in Britain. However, beneath the surface there were currents of discontent. Mira Matikkala here examines modes of thought in Late Victorian Britain that were described as anti-imperialist in the period 1878-1901. In doing so, she clarifies the picture of moral and cultural attitudes in an era which has been too often seen as characterised by monolithic imperial culture. For the first time, this book explores the colourful and fragmentary group of British anti-imperialists collectively and from a comparative perspective; their collaborations as well as the differences in their approaches. The spectrum extends from the eccentric poet and ex-diplomat W.S. Blunt to the philosopher Herbert Spencer and from ethical positivists like Frederic Harrison to practical propagandists like William Digby. This book will be a significant contribution to the fields of British intellectual history and political thought.