This beautifully illustrated volume tells the story of Britain and her peoples over two thousand years, from the coming of the Roman legions to the present day. The dramatic narrative of developments throughout the British Isles is taken up in turn by ten leading historians, who offer the fruits of the best modem scholarship to the general reader in an authoritative and attractive form.
From the authors' exploration of the relationship between the political, economic, social, and cultural transformations in British history there emerges a vivid and sometimes surprising picture of a continuous turmoil of change in every period. But consensus, no less than conflict, is a part of the story: the authors emphasize the elements of continuity in British cultural and social ideals, bringing out that special awareness of nationality and patriotism which has been such a distinctive feature of British society.
By relating both these strands in the British experience, and by exploring the many ways in which Britain has shaped and been shaped by contact with Europe and the wider world, this comprehensive work brings the reader face to face with the past, and the foundations of modem British society.

The book includes over two hundred and fifty illustrations, of which twenty-four are colour plates, all specially chosen to illuminate the text. For easy reference the book also contains a consolidated chronology of events, genealogies of monarchs, and a table of prime ministers. An annotated guide to further reading is provided at the end of the volume.