P. J. Rich

The English Public Schools, Ritualism, Freemasonry, and Imperialism

In order to understand the British Empire, one must understand the British public school and its rituals. The 19th century saw an expansion in the public schools, which seized the opportunity to prepare boys for service in the Empire. The schools developed an elaborate systems of totems and talismans. Their rituals were reenacted all over the world. The rich symbolism of schooldays prepared colonial administrators for staging the Imperial drama. The public schools also became deeply involved with freemasonry, a secret fraternal society. The final chapter of the book provides an assessment of the public school in post-imperial days and notes that in the 20th century the schools have placed pragmatism over principles in order to survive political threats. (DB)

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Elixir of Empire

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