""May the Best Man Win"" Sport, Masculinity, and Nationalism in Great Britain and the Empire, 1880-1935

As Britain's great power status came to be increasingly challenged in the decades before the First World War, one by-product of the resultant uncertainty was the weakening of the Victorian, middle-class consensus of what constituted ideal manhood. Britain's empire was not only the source of wealth and power, but it simultaneously provided alternative models of masculinity and nationhood. Consequently, the empire and the commonwealth played an important role in defining imperial gender relations in both Britain and in the colonies and dominions. May the Best Man Win investigates the continual re-assessment and reassertion of various masculine ideals associated with sport in the British empire between 1880 and 1935. As Britain's great power status came to be increasingly challenged in the decades before the First World War, one by-product of the resultant uncertainty was the weakening of the Victorian middle-class consensus of what constituted ideal manhood. Not only a source of wealth and power, Britain's Empire also provided alternative models of masculinity and nationhood. Consequently, the empire and the commonwealth played an important role in defining imperial gender relations in both Britain and in the colonies and dominions. "May The Best Man Win" investigates the continual re-assessment and reassertion of various masculine ideals associated with sport in the British empire between 1880 and 1935 Front Matter....Pages i-ix Gender and Imperial Sport....Pages 1-13 Strong Men, Free Men: Gaelic Team Sports and Irish Masculinity....Pages 14-36 The King of Sports: Polo in Late Victorian and Edwardian India....Pages 37-57 May the Best White Man Win: Boxing, Race, and Masculinity....Pages 58-80 Defending White Manhood: The Bodyline Affair in England and Australia....Pages 81-110 Black Skin in White Flannel: The West Indies Join the Bodyline Fray....Pages 111-137 Conclusions: Sport, Masculinity, and Nationalism....Pages 138-143 Back Matter....Pages 144-179 A comprehensive social and cultural history of sport in the British empire and its relationship to constructions of masculinity and national identity in Great Britain, Ireland, India, Australia and the West Indies 1880-1935 In the winter of 1906, the national rugby team of South Africa, the Springboks, traveled to Britain for a series of matches.