| The British Inheritance
- A Treasury of Historic Documents
Edited by Elizabeth Hallam and Andrew Prescott.
Britain's 1000-year prominence on the international stage
endures. Posterity owes the English language (spoken now by
more than half the world's population) a tradition of democratic
freedom, governmental and legal systems which have been adapted
in many countries, and world figures in science, literature,
and the arts. The "British Inheritance" is shared
not just by the peoples of the UK but also by those of many
lands - the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa,
and India - which were once its colonies and are now its allies
and partners. Britain's rich historical heritage is evident
in the great archive and manuscript collections found in such
institutions as the Public Record Office, British Library,
National Library of Scotland, Scottish Record Office, and
National Library of Wales.From King Arthur, Alfred the Great,
and William the Conqueror to the end of the Empire, swinging
England of the 1960s, and the multicultural Britain of the
'90s, this volume displays, in chronological order, key documents
which illuminate defining moments in British history.
The documents are accompanied by lively commentaries by experts
and curators, placing the material in context and explaining
its significance. Alongside such major treasures as the Domesday
Book and Magna Carta are many less-well-known but nonetheless
fascinating items such as Oscar Wilde's calling card and the
last letter of Mary, Queen of Scots. Superbly illustrated
in color throughout, with a brief introduction, this authoritative
and accessible book will appeal to anyone with an interest
in history, politics, and culture.
160 pages hardback
(50%
off cover price £25.00)
BOOKSINHER
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