During the eighteenth century Britain rose from a minor power to a global colossus. Yet, as Brendan Simms's provocative new history shows, its imperial greatnes... » 

During the eighteenth century Britain rose from a minor power to a global colossus. Yet, as Brendan Simms's provocative new history shows, its imperial greatness came from not ruling the waves, but from a crucial power base in continental Europe. Just as this held the key to success, it was also the loss of European allies that led to the empire's downfall in the American War of Independence. Telling a story of war, invasion, rebellion, debate, dissent and revolution, Three Victories and a Defeat shows the origins of the British Empire in a whole new light.

'Inspiringly ambitious ... No one interested in empire should miss this' - Ruth Scurr, The Times , Books of the Year

'One of the finest works of history, in any field, published this year' - Stephen Howe, Independent «