Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire – The Last Account of the Vanishing Empire

The New York Times bestselling author of Krakatoa and The Professor and the Madman takes readers on a quirky and charming tour of the last outpost of the British empire

Outposts is Simon Winchester’s journey to find the vanishing empire, “on which the sun never sets.” In the course of a three-year, 100,000 mile journey―from the chill of the Antarctic to the blue seas of the Caribbean, from the South of Spain and the tip of China to the utterly remote specks in the middle of gale-swept oceans―he discovered such romance and depravity, opulence and despair tht he was inspired to write what may be the last contemporary account of the British empire. Written with Winchester’s captivating style and breadth, here are conversations and anecdotes, myths and political analysis, scenery and history―a poignant and colorful record of the lingering beat of what was once the heart of the civilized world.

Winchester’s sweeping historical travelogue explores the people and places at the very edge of the map:

• British Empire History: A poignant look at the last outposts of an empire "on which the sun never sets," from the Falkland Islands to Hong Kong.
• Global Travel Memoir: A three-year, 100,000-mile journey to the world’s most remote corners, from the chill of the Antarctic to the gale-swept islands of the Indian Ocean.
• Post-colonial Reflection: A world of romance and depravity, opulence and despair is revealed in this final, contemporary account of the lingering beat of British rule.
• In-depth Political Geography: Blending engaging anecdotes with incisive political analysis, Winchester explores colonialism’s complex legacy and the people living within it.

Simon Winchester (1944 – 2026) was the acclaimed author of many books, including The Professor and the Madman, The Men Who United the States, The Map That Changed the World, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, and Krakatoa, all of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006, Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen.