AT HOME WITH THE EMPIRE: METROPOLITAN CULTURE AND THE IMPERIAL WORLD; ED. BY CATHERINE HALL

This pioneering 2006 volume addresses the question of how Britain's empire was lived through everyday practices - in church and chapel, by readers at home, as embodied in sexualities or forms of citizenship, as narrated in histories - from the eighteenth century to the present. Leading historians explore the imperial experience and legacy for those located, physically or imaginatively, 'at home,' from the impact of empire on constructions of womanhood, masculinity and class to its influence in shaping literature, sexuality, visual culture, consumption and history-writing. They assess how people thought imperially, not in the sense of political affiliations for or against empire, but simply assuming it was there, part of the given world that had made them who they were. They also show how empire became a contentious focus of attention at certain moments and in particular ways. This will be essential reading for scholars and students of modern Britain and its empire. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Notes on contributors 9 Chapter one Introduction: being at home with the Empire 13 A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY 17 HISTORIOGRAPHY 20 THIS BOOK’S PERSPECTIVE 30 EMPIRE AND THE EVERYDAY 34 CONCLUSION 42 Chapter two At home with history: Macaulay and the History of England 44 Chapter three A homogeneous society? Britain’s internal ‘others’, 1800–present 65 DEFINING INTERNAL OTHERS 66 THE PERILS OF NARRATION 68 HOW MANY WERE TOO MANY? 69 EMPIRE BUILDING CREATED INTERNAL OTHERS 71 MIGRATION, OTHERING AND EMPIRE 75 JEWS AND THE CONDITION OF ENGLAND 76 EMPIRE AND ANTI-GERMANISM 78 COLONISED DIASPORAS / IMPERIAL CIRCULATION 80 SINCE 1945: WAS THE WINDRUSH SOMETHING NEW? 82 EMIGRATION 83 A CASE STUDY: SOUTH SHIELDS 1841–1939 85 CONCLUSION 87 Chapter four At home with the Empire: the example of Ireland 89 WAS IRELAND A COLONY? 91 LOCATING IRELAND 93 A UNITED KINGDOM? 95 FAMINE: AN IMPERIAL CALAMITY? 98 INTERNAL DIVISIONS 100 AT HOME? THE IRISH IN BRITAIN 103 IMPERIAL NATIONALISM? 105 AN IRISH EMPIRE? 108 END OF EMPIRE? 109 CONCLUSION 111 Chapter five The condition of women, women’s writing and the Empire in nineteenth-century Britain 113 Chapter six Sexuality and empire 134 Chapter seven Religion and empire at home 155 THE BIRTH OF MODERN MISSIONS 159 ‘THE CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE OF RELIGION’ 165 THE AGE OF EMPIRE 170 THE RISE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY 174 IRON CAGES 176 Chapter eight Metropolitan desires and colonial connections: reflections on consumption and empire 178 INTERACTIONS OF COLONIES AND METROPOLE 182 INTERACTIONS OF THE ‘MATERIAL’ AND THE ‘CULTURAL’ 189 INTERACTIONS OF THE EXOTIC AND THE EVERYDAY 198 CONCLUSIONS 201 Chapter nine Imagining empire: history, fantasy and literature 203 CODA 220 Chapter ten New narratives of imperial politics in the nineteenth century 224 COLONIAL CIRCUITRY AND THE POLITICS OF SOCIAL IMPERIALISM 231 Chapter eleven Bringing the Empire home: women activists in imperial Britain, 1790s–1930s 242 IMPERIAL PHILANTHROPY AND SOCIAL REFORM 243 FEMALE IMPERIALISTS 250 ANTI-IMPERIAL AND ANTI-RACIST ACTIVISTS 258 CONCLUSION 262 Chapter twelve Taking class notes on empire 263 GENTLEMAN CAPITALISTS AND EMPIRE 265 ANTI-SLAVERY AND CLASS POLITICS 269 IMPERIAL ENCOUNTERS: TWO SOLDIERS’ STORIES 276 WAYS OF BELONGING 282 Chapter thirteen Citizenship and empire, 1867–1928 287 WHAT IS CITIZENSHIP? 289 SUBJECTS, NATIONALS AND ALIENS 290 POLITICAL CITIZENSHIP AND THE EXPANSION OF THE SUFFRAGE BEFORE WORLD WAR I 292 GOOD CITIZENSHIP 296 CITIZENSHIP AND EMPIRE, 1914–1928 300 Select bibliography 310 Index 342 This Pioneering Volume Addresses The Question Of How Britain's Empire Was Lived Through Everyday Practices - In Church And Chapel, By Readers At Home, As Embodied In Sexualities Or Forms Of Citizenship, As Narrated In Histories. Being At Home With The Empire / Catherine Hall And Sonya Rose -- At Home With History: Macaulay And The History Of England / Catherine Hall -- A Homogeneous Society? Britain's Internal 'others', 1800-present / Laura Tabili -- At Home With The Empire: The Example Of Ireland / Christine Kinealy -- The Condition Of Women, Women's Writing And The Empire In Nineteenth-century Britain / Jane Rendall -- Sexuality And Empire / Philippa Levine -- Religion And Empire At Home / Susan Thorne -- Metropolitan Desires And Colonial Connections: Reflections On Consumption And Empire / Joanna De Groot -- Imagining Empire: History, Fantasy And Literature / Cora Kaplan -- New Narratives Of Imperial Politics In The Nineteenth Century / Antoinette Burton -- Bringing The Empire Home: Women Activists In Imperial Britain,1790s-1930s / Clare Midgley -- Taking Class Notes On Empire / James Epstein -- Citizenship And Empire, 1867-1928 / Keith Mcclelland And Sonya Rose. Edited By Catherine Hall And Sonya O. Rose. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 298-329) And Index.