A definitive history of Britain which tells the story of two islands, Britain and Ireland, and all the people, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and English, who have lived in them.
A comprehensive history of Britain that delves into some edgy and less well-known events as well as shining a light on the more traditional narratives of Scottish, Irish, Welsh and English history - William the Conqueror's arrival in 1066, Magna Carta, the Great Fire of London, the execution of Charles I, the abolition of slavery, the Battle of Britain and many more, as well as all the famous characters we know and love (or hate). This jacketed hardback edition is lavishly illustrated by Irish artist P.J. Lynch.
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"What a delight: a book combining the very best of old-fashioned values with the highest qualities of modern writing, illustration, design and production. The text brings things up to the final years of the last century whilst the artwork is a timeless joy. The artistic lynch-pin of high-quality information books for young readers is simplification without compromising accuracy, and in both the words and the pictures The Story of Britain is a prime example." - Chris Brown, Reviews Editor,The School Librarian
About the Author
Patrick Dillon is the author of two highly acclaimed history books for adults: The Last Revolution and The Much-Lamented Death of Madam Geneva. On writing The Story of Britain, he says, "I first fell in love with history through stories, and, thirty years later, found that they were stories my children loved too. I decided it was time to write a new history and take that journey again. I wanted The Story of Britain to show that what happened in the past happened to real people, to put across all the different things it means to be British, and to explain how the stories I loved made us who we are today." Patrick Dillon won a scholarship to Cambridge to read English but chose to read architecture at University College London, specializing in architectural history. He became an architect and has just completed the restoration of the Snape Maltings concert hall in Suffolk. Patrick lives in London with his wife and children.
About the Illustrator
P.J. Lynch grew up in Belfast and has won many awards, including the Mother Goose Award, the Christopher Medal, and the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal on two occasions. On illustrating The Story of Britain, P.J. Lynch says, "For a history buff like me, working on this book has been a particular pleasure - and a great learning experience. I had read a lot about individual characters and various periods, but Patrick Dillon's wonderful history shows how they all fit together." P.J. Lynch lives in Dublin with his wife and three children.
Industry Reviews
'For years people have been complaining that there is no up to date equivalent to Our Island Story...Patrick Dillon has answered this need admirably with The Story of Britain. It is a straightforward and vivid account, well produced, and with pleasantly traditional illustrations by P.J. Lynch and deserves a place in any child's bookcase.' The Spectator 'This highly readable narrative is easy to dip in and out of or to power through in big gulps'. The Guardian 'Full of good, straightforward storytelling - Patrick Dillon's tone is wise and comradely, without being condescending, and his imagination and obvious delight in his subject are hard to resist - My daughter loved it.' Intelligent Life 'A sumptuous, comprehensive history of the British Isles and its people - Beautifully done.' The Bookseller 'A beautifully produced book with wonderful illustrations - it really does cover everything - a brilliant present - and very good for adults who've been short-changed in their history education as well!' Iain Dale, LBC Radio Book Club 'What a delight: a book combining the very best of old-fashioned values with the highest qualities of modern writing, illustration, design and production. The text brings things up to the final years of the last century whilst the artwork is a timeless joy. The artistic lynch-pin of high quality information books for young readers is simplification without compromisng accuracy and in both the words and the pictures The Story of Britain is a prime example.' The School Librarian 'I like The Story of Britain. very much - it's a breath of fresh air in format and content, and very readable, entertaining and informative.' Miles Taylor, Director of the Institute for Historical Research 'A beautifully produced yet serious and authoritive, history of the British Isles - ' The Bookseller 'Invaluable to those who have forgotten their history lessons.' The Resident 'This is an amazing history book. It is a series of beautifully told stories in chronological order from 1066 until present day, plus a fantastic introduction that gives a very clear picture of life from the Stone Age until 1066. The stories are so engaging that even adults - would gain insight from reading this book. I would recommend this to anyone of any age. It would make a perfect present for a child of any age. If there were 10 stars to give it would not be enough for this book.' Amazon reader 'Patrick Dillon writes - as if he has experienced what has happened. The way he tells [the stories] makes you want to listen. Older children can learn a lot from it - I know I certainly did!' Amazon young reader
