Africa and the Victorians

Ronald Robinson and John Andrew Gallagher worked at the University of Cambridge and shared an interest in the origins of the British Empire. Their work challenged "traditional interpretations" of imperialism and British expansionism. focusing on that nation's expansion. The authors argue that the development of a formal British empire was strategically needed in the face of rising nationalism among inhabitants of regions Britain controlled. According to Robinson and Gallagher, imperialism "began as little more than a defensive reaction to the Irish, the Egyptian and the Transvaal rebellions" from the 1860s to the 1880s. Africa and the Victorians offers "an indictment of any exclusively economic interpretation of the scramble for Africa" == Reception ==

Upon publication, the book received many reviews, and Robinson and Gallagher's work has been described as having far reaching influence. In his introduction to the 1998 The Oxford History of the British Empire, Wm. Roger Louis described their work as creating "a conceptual revolution." The book provided a context of expansion that focused on events outside of Europe. The Canadian Historical Review declared that "Students of African or imperial history must read this book, and will enjoy reading it." A reviewer in The Journal of Modern History described it as a "remarkable book". They described the book as "rewriting" the history and interpretation of the scramble. Writing in The Economic History Review, D. K. Fieldhouse felt that the authors made a "very strong case" but felt they attributed too much of the scramble as a response to British expansion in Egypt. He also felt that the book felt repetitive at times, but was generally a "very impressive piece of research and argument...perhaps the sanest and most convincing interpretation yet published of the real character of British imperialism in the late 19th century." A reviewer in The American Historical Review felt that the argument presented would be "startling" to African nationalists and economic determinists but was well supported and persuasive, concluding it was a "well written, stimulating essay." George Shepperson reviewed the book in The English Historical Review, concluding that the book was more realistic than others of its genre, considering it an important would that was "certain to be influential" but questioning the heavy reliance on official records, which he felt often omitted details or context, and saying that its theorizing represented the weakest parts. Shepperson concluded that the book was generally excellent. A reviewer in Transition called the book "very important... but also extremely entertaining [and] delightfully written". == References ==