It is Rebecca Fraser's aim to write a dramatic - indeed passionate - narrative which will form a lively and refreshing introduction to traditional history. One of her main themes about British history is freedom. Every since Caractacus and Boudicca surprised the Romans with the bravery of their opposition, Britain has been the home of liberty. From Alfred the Great to Churchill, from Thomas Moore to Nelson, from Wilberforce to Florence Nightingale, British history is studded with heroic figures who have stood against tyranny in all its guises, be it the ambitions of Napoleon or Hitler, or the institution of slavery. Packed with anecdotes about the men and women who created turning points in history, about British scientists, explorers, writers and artists, this sparkling narrative has the sweep and pace of an epic.