Symbol of Authority: The British District Officer in Africa

The District Officer (DO) was the pivot of Britain's Colonial Administration throughout the Empire. In the eyes of many, the DO was the government. But who were these men, called to serve in a position of such extraordinary breadth and endless generality? Symbol of Authority is a fascinating look at this unique job – part of a never to be repeated episode in British and imperial history - through the eyes of those who undertook it. Written by a leading imperial scholar and former DO, Anthony Kirk-Greene, the book will be an essential reference for scholars of imperial history and a delight for all those interested in the lives of the men who maintained the empire.