Entente Imperial - British and French Power in the Age of Empire

Today-s arguments over Britain-s relationship with Europe and its place in the world are shaped by its imperial history. The nineteenth century is too often invoked as moment where, thanks to unrivalled industry and an expansive empire, Britain alone exerted global dominance, without the need for European collaboration. This book shows how this is fundamentally wrong by exploring British collaboration with France between 1848 and 1914. Entente Imperial redefines our understanding of Britain-s role in the world in the age of empire.In the 1850s, the very moment at which British power climaxed, the author shows how Britain worked alongside its only European rival, France, to exert unprecedented influence throughout the world. Together, France and Britain went to war in Russia and China, established the world-s first free-trade treaty, considered shared measurements for trade and the arts, and initiated the Suez Canal-s construction. This was a profound moment of Anglo-French integration