Entertaining the Empire

Discover the captivating world of Entertaining the Empire by Manchester University Press, set to be released in 2025. This compelling hardback edition spans 280 pages, exploring how comic songs and sketches originating in London traveled across the British Empire in the fifty years leading up to the First World War. Delve into the lives of both amateur and professional performers who brought these entertaining pieces to colonial venues, mirroring the culture of Home. This book reveals how what may have seemed like trivial entertainment evolved into a powerful expression of an increasingly racialized British identity overseas. Perfect for history enthusiasts and those interested in cultural studies, Entertaining the Empire offers a unique perspective on the intersection of entertainment and colonialism.