Writing the Empire: The McIlwraiths, 1853-1948

Writing the Empire is a collective biography of the McIlwraiths, a family of politicians, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, scientists, and scholars who originated in Ayrshire, Scotland, and spread across the British Empire, specifically North America and Australia, from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. It explores how various McIlwraiths articulated their identity as subjects of the British Empire over time, focusing on imperial networking and the challenges issued by Indigenous people to imperial ideologies.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 536 pages
\n Publication date: 06 April 2021
\n Publisher: University of Toronto Press
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The McIlwraiths, a remarkable family of politicians, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, scientists, and scholars, have left an indelible mark on the world through their diverse contributions to literature, politics, and anthropology. Their story begins in Ayrshire, Scotland, and spans across the vast British Empire, particularly North America and Australia, from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. In their collective biography titled "Writing the Empire," author Eva-Marie Kröller delves into the lives of three generations of the McIlwraiths, exploring their life writing, including correspondence, diaries, memoirs, and estate papers, alongside published works by family members.

Through a seamless transition from generation to generation and from one stage of a person's life to the next, Kröller meticulously investigates how various McIlwraiths, both men and women, articulated their identity as subjects of the British Empire over time. She uncovers fascinating parallels and competing forms of communication that extended beyond the family's immediate circle, encompassing significant public figures. Moreover, she delves into the challenges posed by Indigenous people to imperial ideologies, shedding light on the complexities and contradictions of the empire's expansion.

Drawing upon private papers and public archives, "Writing the Empire" emerges as an enlightening biography that captivates readers with its exploration of the intricate connections between life writing and imperial history. It offers a profound insight into the lives and legacies of the McIlwraiths, highlighting their profound impact on society and the broader historical narrative. This captivating work will undoubtedly appeal to those with a deep interest in the intersections of personal narratives, cultural heritage, and the complexities of empire-building.

\n Weight: 934g\n
Dimension: 161 x 237 x 40 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781487507572\n \n