Decolonising Imperial Heroes

This book explores the enduring legacies of imperial heroes, revealing their complex afterlives and ongoing relevance in post-colonial discourse.

The post-colonial afterlives of imperial heroes are examined from various perspectives in Decolonising Imperial Heroes. This exploration reveals that the reputations of certain heroic figures from the era of 'New Imperialism' have not only persisted but often been revitalized following decolonization. Initially published as a special issue of the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, the book delves into the enduring legacies of these figures in a world that has moved on from colonial rule.

The heroes of the British and French empires were at the forefront of the dynamic cultures of imperialism that emerged in Europe during the latter half of the nineteenth century. While the narratives surrounding figures like Livingstone and Gordon, or Marchand and Brazza, are well-documented, scholars have frequently assumed these individuals faded from public consciousness with the decline of empire. However, Decolonising Imperial Heroes challenges this notion by illustrating that these figures did not vanish after 1945; instead, their reputations transformed in both the former metropoles and the colonies.

This book develops a framework for understanding the intricate legacies of decolonization, highlighting that the 'decolonisation' of these imperial heroes is a complex and ongoing process, extending beyond the political withdrawal from empire. It investigates how the narratives of explorers, humanitarians, and missionaries have been reshaped and how these figures have become contentious symbols in political debates, revealing their surprising resurgence in both nation-building narratives and heritage sites in former colonies.