Kathleen BurkOld World, New World: The Story of Britain and America

A very good book, come in time

This book is an historical 'tour de force' and Kathleen Burk has produced a work of genius. Here we have some 830 pages (including extensive notes and the index) devoted to a better understanding of the sometimes fraught relations between 'The Mother Country' (Great Britain) and her often naughty 'child' (the Colonies collectively and then the United States), seen from both points of view and spanning some 400 years. Ms. Burk does both mother and child proud and will do her readers a power of good. The 'special relationship' is examined with scholarly rigour and thoroughness and the whole work is well-written. Having taken many evenings to read the book, I came to two conclusions: first, that the influence and power for good or ill that flowed over the centuries from Great Britain to the United States largely followed the movement of physical gold. It is a conclusion that bodes difficulties to come for the U.S., and I write this with no pleasure. Secondly, I concluded that if only the American part of the old British Empire had stayed 'loyal' and had continued to be guided by British experience and wisdom, many of yesterday's and today's problems would not have emerged or would have been dealt with differently. On balance, Great Britain's governments and statesmen mostly seem to have had so much more common sense and nous than those of the United States - discuss!

Kathleen Burk's book, is essentially the story of how Britain created the original 13 colonies, a brief overview of why and how Britain lost America in the War of Independence, to Anglo American relations in the 19th century when there was border disputes between the young USA and Canada, and who had the rights to Oregon territory that also included Washington State. She then gets political with Anglo American relations in the 20th century, the alliance since 1945 and how the special relationship developed after 1945. Overall a very interesting addition for anyone interested in the history and politics of the USA.

Bought this for my uni course and it’s such a useful book! Would definitely recommend for any History students. The print is distorted and blurry on a number of pages though, a huge shame.

For me this was a disappointment given the freshness and crisp analysis of Kathleen's other work.

Fine. No worries.

it was in good shape

No problems