This is a book which should be read by anyone interested in the history of Africa. McCracken has produced a text which will shape research on Malawi for years to come. LUCAS A highly valuable contribution to historical writing on Malawi and provides a useful synthesis of previously published work. ... [It] will inspire a new generation of historians to deepen our understanding of these issues and many more that remain under-researched in the country's fascinating but often neglected history. AFRICAN AFFAIRS A truly monumental achievement, and the fruit of a lifetime's work at the forefront of the study of Malawi. JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN STUDIES A masterful survey of Malawi's modern past [which] is bound to become the go-to text for students and scholars ... and must surely become a standard reference for those interested in Malawi's modern history, politics and economics. AFRICA [An] awe-inspiring book...McCracken has now delivered his long-awaited magnum opus. ... A towering scholarly achievement [that] will surely stand the test of time for generations to come. IJAHS [A] magisterial account [and] a landmark event in the country's historiography. [.] It is a book so distinguished by the depth and quality of its analysis that it will take its place in the front rank of the literature addressing the colonial period in Africa. [.] Scholars, students and all interested readers will be grateful to have such a comprehensive, gripping and dependable account. THE SOCIETY OF MALAWI JOURNAL A good solid read. CHARTIST This major history [.] replaces all previous histories of the country [and] will stand as a foundation to all future research. Its breadth of treatment is as impressive as its immense range of primary and secondary sources. ROUND TABLE