Best book on rise and fall of the British Empire?

[Charlemagne]

I am looking for something accurate and academic. I dont like the popular histories written by journalists (no offense if you do like those). I want something drier than a martini and well researched.

Thanks so much for any suggestions!

[eppur_se_muova]

1. A big part of the fall was WWI -- "A Peace To End All Peace" covers much of it fairly well.

http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780805068849-1

While you're at Powell's :), http://www.powells.com/s?kw=british+empire&class=

Here's another one I read -- for some reason I couldn't remember the title :silly: -- http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780312140397-5

[Rowdyboy]

2. For the period 1880-1914 I have a recommendation....

Robert Massie's "Deadnought: Britian, Germany and the coming of the Great War".

Its 908 pages of fun by the author of "Nicholas and Alexandra" and its actually fairly readable. I've only read sections I was particularly interested in but if you can get a copy through your library it could be of value.

Good luck!

[bemildred]

3. "The Decline and Fall of the British Empire" -- Piers Brendon

Written with a nod to the Great work by Gibbon.