Since the end of the Cold War so-called experts have been predicting the eclipse of America’s “special relationship” with Britain. But as events have shown, especially in the wake of 9/11, the political and cultural ties between America and Britain have grown stronger. Blood, Class and Empire examines the dynamics of this relationship, its many cultural manifestations-the James Bond series, PBS “Brit Kitsch,” Rudyard Kipling-and explains why it still persists. Contrarian, essayist and polemicist, Christopher Hitchens notes that while the relationship is usually presented as a matter of tradition, manners, and common culture, sanctified by wartime alliance, the special ingredient is empire; transmitted from an ancient regime that has tried to preserve and renew itself thereby. England has attempted to play Greece to the American Rome, but ironically having encouraged the United States to become an equal partner in the business of empire, Britain found itself supplanted.

About the AuthorChristopher Hitchens (1949-2011) was a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a columnist for Slate. He was the author of numerous books, including works on Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, George Orwell, Mother Teresa, Henry Kissinger and Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as his international bestseller and National Book Award nominee, god Is Not Great. His memoir, Hitch-22, which was a Sunday Times bestseller, was nominated for the Orwell Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. His last book, Mortality, was published in 2012 by Atlantic Books.ReviewsThis is a genuinely important book, and not the less so because it is so entertaining. * Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph *A deeply engaging voice – witty, elegantly sceptical, and with real intellectual sinew. I can think of no-one I would rather read on this subject. * Ian McEwan *Book InformationISBN 9781838952310Author Christopher HitchensFormat PaperbackPage Count 432Imprint Atlantic BooksPublisher Atlantic BooksWeight(grams) 301gDimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 26mm