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Recommendations?

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by FormerlyOldHermit (U3291242) on Thursday, 29th January 2009

  Hi,
  
  Currently trying to do some research and was wondering whether anyone has any recommendations for books dealing with British Foreign and Imperial policy post-WWII (preferably ones which deal with the late 40s-early 60s.)??
  
  Thanks,
  
  OH.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Vizzer aka U_numbers (U2011621) on Thursday, 29th January 2009

  Not a scholarly work this but a good read nonetheless is 'End of Empire' (1985) by Brian Lapping. It reviews the UK's disengagement from Palestine/Israel, India, Malaya, Iran, Egypt, Singapore, Cyprus, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia/Northern Rhodesia and Zimbabwe/Rhodesia and was written to accompany the television series of the same name.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by U3280211 (U3280211) on Thursday, 29th January 2009

  OH.
  
  This covers a period slightly longer than the parameters you define but it is a superbly written text and one that is still available.
  
  "Losing an Empire, Finding a Role: British Foreign Policy Since 1945." by David Sanders.
  
  A book I haven't read which is mentioned on Amazon is:-
  
  "British Officials and British Foreign Policy 1945-1950"
  by John Zametica.
  It seems to be a book of readings. Zametica is the editor. It is expensive and I make no claims for the quality of its contents.
  
  
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Thursday, 29th January 2009

  Old Hermit
  
  I agree with the recommendation of "End of Empire", Brian Lapping (ISBN 0-586-08870-9)
  
  The last chapters of Lawrence James' "The Rise and Fall of the British Empire" (ISBN 0-349-10667-3) and the last chapter of Niall Fergusson's "Empire" (ISBN 0-141-00754) are worth a look.
  
  Michael Carver's "Tightrope Walking" (ISBN 0-09-174682-5) and the relevant chapters of "The Chiefs" by Bill Jackson and Dwin Bramall (ISBN 0-08-040370) on British defence policy specifically.
  
  Keith Kyle's "Suez" (ISBN 1-86064-811-8)is the best source on Suez, and the wider context of British foreign policy in the 1950s.
  
  Cheers
  
  LW

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• Message 5

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  Posted by LairigGhru (U5452625) on Friday, 30th January 2009

  Books that I own which are roughly in that category are: 'Post-War Britain: a Political History' by Alan Sked and Chris Cook; 'Crisis in the West' by Drew Middleton; 'World Politics: Trend and Transformation' by Charles W. Kegley jr and Eugene R. Wittkopf; 'African Independence' edited by Peter Judd.
  
  Perhaps Andrew Marr's 'A History of Modern Britain' would also be enlightening.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by FormerlyOldHermit (U3291242) on Saturday, 31st January 2009

  Thank you very much guys. Very much appreciated.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by FormerlyOldHermit (U3291242) on Friday, 15th May 2009

  Hi again guys. My research has gone well and have been drawn into looking at Commonwealth relations relating to the Malayan Emergency.
  
  Firstly, does anybody know of any good and scholarly works on the Malayan Emergency specifically? Sort of a general overview of the conflict as I've done some reading and a lot of things just touch on Malaya and don't go into great detail.
  
  Secondly, does anybody know of any works on specifically looking at Commonwealth relations to do with the Emergency?
  
  P.S In my reading earlier I came across a number of books by a Bernard Porter......I wish I hadn't.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Friday, 15th May 2009

  Old Hermit
  
  The relevant chapter in Lapping's "End of Empire" is very good.
  
  "Malaya: The Communist Insurgent War" by Edgar O'Ballance is not bad,but rather one-sided and probably only available through a library.
  
  Noel Barber's "The War of the Running Dogs" (ISBN 0-304-36671-4) is reasonable as well, although the prose is a bit old-fashioned.
  
  The relevant chapters of John Cloake's biography of Templer, "Templer - Tiger of Malaya" (ISBN 0-245-54204-3) are worth a read. Robert Thompson's memoir "Make For The Hills", which contrasts his role in Malaya with Vietnam (rather self-servingly) is also useful, if you can find a copy.
  
  There is a book on Commonwealth relations, I think by an Australian, but I haven't got the name. The Australian War Memorial site notes their Official History and another official publication:
  
  
  
  Hope that helps.
  
  LW

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by FormerlyOldHermit (U3291242) on Wednesday, 9th September 2009

  Coming back for more now I know but...
  
  1. Does anybody know of a good biography of Robert Menzies?
  
  2. Does anybody know of a good biography of Sidney Holland?

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