To paraphrase a wise observation - we will only know where we are heading if we know where we have come from - is in part the inspiration for this series of national histories. In addition to that understanding, it was the conviction of series editor, Justin Wintle, that increasing globalization makes it ever more essential to understand our own history and the history of other nations, neighbouring or worlds away. This volume presents an accessible and incisive overview of the history of England, a country whose impact on world events and culture has been immense. Covering everything from the pre-Celtic beginnings, through the Industrial Revolution and the heyday of the Victorian empire, to the present day, it features a continuous time-line, plus sidebars on the Magna Carta, Shakespeare, the East India Company, Margaret Thatcher and many other topics.