In an elegant and engaging writing style that befits his former position as Literary Editor of The Sunday Times, Ritchie takes his readers to each of these places and lets them discover, right along with him, the truth about the remnants of the British Empire. What he discovered surprised and even amazed him. He recounts his tales with humour and the self-effacing wit peculiar to the British.

All in all, Ritchie's seven pilgrimages make for a delightful tour of British history. They also provide a refreshing reality check for those who think of the legacy of the Empire as dead and gone.