The Rise Fall of British Empire Author:James, Lawrence James Great Britain's geopolitical role has undergone many changes over the last four centuries. Once a maritime superpower and ruler of half the world, Britain now occupies an isolated position as an economically fragile island often at odds with her European neighbors. — Lawrence James has written a comprehensive, perceptive, and insighful history o... more »f the British Empire. Spanning the years from 1600 to the present day, this critically acclaimed book combines detailed scholarship with readable popular history.« less