in these chapters much later discussed in the conferenceInformal Empire?
held in Bristol in January 2007. In addition, sections of Chapters 5 and 8 were
delivered at the conferenceBritish Island Stories: History, Identity and Nation-
hoodorganized in 2002 and published in 2004.
Finally, my greatest thanks to my family—my husband Angel and my
daughter Anna. This book is dedicated to them.
x Preface