The Rhetoric of Empire

“Spurr is excellent at showing how current western journalistic reports from what used to be called the ‘Third World’ are inheritors of, and more often than not complicit with, the most manifestly chauvinistic, racist, and triumphalist colonial writing on ‘the white man’s burden. . . . Spurr is also adept at illustrating how western systems of classification—whether of political forms or of racial characteristics—continue to inform ‘Third World’ debates, and how a stance of exasperation and an interest in the degradations of ‘native’ life, can continue to play into stereotypes coined by Victorian invaders. . . . Deeply worthwhile, thorough and even impassioned intervention in the archeological work of uncovering further variations and strategies in the copious archive of imperialist discursivity.” - Enda Duffy , ariel

“Spurr’s emphasis spans literature and journalism from Britain, France, and the U.S. in order to interpret their historical strategies on a number of registers and continents. . . . The Rhetoric of Empire successfully demonstrates our continued complicity with colonialism . . .” - Christopher Lane, Discourse

"The Rhetoric of Empire is a richly eclectic, innovative study. It should appeal to a considerable cross-section of scholars and students and gain recognition as a significant intervention in colonial studies." - Rob Nixon, Columbia University

"Spurr's ability to make connections between literature and its shadow discourse, journalism, and to show how the two work in tandem to reinforce the culture of colonialism, is really most impressive. The overall result of his approach is a broad perspective on the global problem of colonialism." - Christopher Miller, Yale University