未竟的帝國：英國的全球擴張

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作家南方朔、楊照 好評推薦

《帖木兒之後》作者最新力作、《經濟學人》年度選書

在這個不穩定的世界裡，沒有哪種帝國能維持現狀永遠不變，

只有暫時的喘息，沒有帝國的「最終狀態」。

要了解帝國體系，就要先了解英國！

我們生活在由數個帝國打造出的世界，今日的主權國家，有多達四分之一出自英國。大英帝國以各種方式塑造了世界：移民數個大陸、創造新國家，並將其語言、科技、價值觀強加在其他民族身上。近兩百年時間，其擴張至垮台，乃是決定歷史進程的最大因素，如今它仍為迷思、誤解、爭議所籠罩。

本書說明大英帝國內部多元並存、矛盾，又混亂，這個帝國受水火不容的利益團體所控制，其擴張除憑藉本身的強大，也得益於他國的衰弱。同時以英國為例，探討在歐洲境外擴張的三百年期間帝國的建造過程，並以中世英格蘭帝國主義史為這些擴張行動的根源。

【名家推薦】

約翰．達爾文寫出一部出色的大英帝國史，廓除籠罩這主題的意識形態濃霧，說明我們如今仍受到這帝國多大的影響。──《維梅爾的帽子》作者卜正民（Timothy Brook）

令人耳目一新、富有見地、經透徹研究、令人折服之作。──《假如日本不曾偷襲珍珠港》作者安德魯．羅伯茲（Andrew Roberts）

本書這般從多方面了解帝國過往，使我們能更清楚、更深刻理解種種權力與暴力。為帝國史著作立下更高的標竿。──《BBC歷史雜誌》

最佳單卷本指南──《衛報》

無人能及的大英帝國興亡概述──《週日獨立報》年度好書

達爾文學識之深厚令人嘆服……從頭至尾保持令人讚賞的客觀、嚴肅學術立場……一部鞭辟入裡、富有見地、讀來有趣、不慍不火的書。──《紐約時報書評》

達爾文先生讓人增長知識、眼界大開的著作，寫作嚴謹，充滿有趣的統計資料和敏銳的觀察心得。──《華爾街日報》

擲地有聲的帝國史著作……極重要且有用。身為英格蘭人，對於他的國家所曾管轄的那個帝國，達爾文既未吹捧，也未刻意自我批判，而是以明澈的眼睛予以檢視。他在這點上的成就已達到值得嘉許、乃至出類拔萃的程度。──《華盛頓郵報》Jonathan Yardley

面面俱到……達爾文的博學使他得以避開狹隘的辯護、批判窠臼，深入介紹英國那段稱霸全球的不凡時期。──《週日泰晤士報》

在本書中，約翰．達爾文提醒我們，帝國是人所締造。這本書從建造、經營大英帝國的男女的視角講述這帝國的歷史，身為帝國史權威的作者，針對這個史上存續最久之一且影響力最大之一的帝國的複雜運作方式，提供了新且客觀的檢視。凡是有意尋找清楚易懂、面面俱到、跟得上時代的探討大英帝國之作的人，有此一部即夠，毋須他尋。──The Rule of Empires作者Timothy Parsons

概括性且毫無教條主義氣息的專題著作，研究大英帝國漸進且並非總是安穩的發展過程……作者精闢描述了英國人在印度的不凡統治……一部立場公允、旁徵博引的著作，精細入微呈現帝國的建造過程。──科克斯書評

寬廣的歷史視野、令人耳目一新的看法、出色的寫作風格、過人的學識……此書一出，其他任何同一主題的著作都可以束諸高閣……終於擺脫掉扭怩不安情緒的大英帝國史著作；我們所引頸期盼的著作。──《今日歷史》

鞭辟入裡的剖析……熔個人淵博學識、言所當言的公正立場、優美筆法於一爐，達爾文寫出振奮人心的精彩之作。──《經濟學人》

公允、富創見、令人讚嘆的新歷史著作。──《文學評論》

出版社 麥田 (城邦)

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