This book investigates whether the intellectual frameworks and imperialist mentalities established by nineteenth-century British historians continue to influence contemporary historical inquiry and English national identity. Bill Schwarz and his contributors utilize postcolonial theory to analyze how the height of the British Empire institutionalized specific ways of thinking about race, ethnicity, and gender. By deconstructing the professionalization of history during the imperial era, the authors argue that these deep-seated habits of thought persist in modern academic and cultural discourse. The text serves as a critical examination of how the legacy of empire remains embedded in the collective consciousness of modern Britain.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a significant contribution to the intersection of historiography and postcolonial theory. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of both British imperial history and critical theory to fully grasp the arguments presented.