The perfect concise introduction to England's past for readers of all ages, this book is also a unique work of popular history, written by a master storyteller. With vivid character sketches, telling details and well-chosen anecdotes, Christopher Hibbert brings people and places to life, while the outline of great events remains perfectly clear. His remarkable narrative keeps the reader enthralled, from the first encounter with England's Neolithic inhabitants, through the entire course of the country's political, economic and cultural history, to an expression of faith in the qualities of the English today. The text is illuminated throughout by many colour illustrations, and the need for quick reference is met by maps, genealogies, fold-out chronological charts and a comprehensive index. Concise yet richly informative, this book presents a new style of history that will absorb and educate all who read it.