In 1945 Britain was victorious. Its future - and that of its empire - seemed assured. Yet in less than two years after what Churchill termed it's 'finest hour', a bankrupt nation found itself the ghost of its once-great self, forced to give up control over the 'jewel in the crown' of India and the prized territory of Palestine. How did this rapid change of fortunes come about?
Peter Clarke's brilliant book examines how Britain was dealt a losing hand after winning the war, how it found itself overshadowed by America, and how the sun finally set on the British empire.