Parkinson - Remember, remember (the fifth of November): everything youve ever wanted to know about British history with all the boring bits taken out

T his book was born out of a desire to encapsulate the whole sweep of British historyfrom the Roman invasion to the end of the Second World Warin no more than 150 entries, each no longer than 250 words. Could it be done? At first, the task seemed impossible: How could something as complex as the Wars of the Roses or the Treaty of Versailles possibly be condensed into such a brief entry? But after much painstaking (and painful) pruning, the result is, we believe, a comprehensive overview that gives you all the key facts without any flab.

Why we undertook this task is another matter. For many of us, Britains history was taught piecemeal, with in-depth coverage of some periods and complete absence of information on others. For some, perhaps an older generation, it was taught as a list of worthy but dull dates, which were very easily forgotten. It is not surprising, therefore, that many of us reach adulthood with embarrassing gaps in our knowledge, conscious of a vague feeling that we should know more about the subject. Which George was which? Was Bloody Mary the same as Mary, Queen of Scots? And who murdered Thomas Becket, and why did it matter anyway?

This is where Remember, Remember steps in. Aiming to address these gaps in a simple, accessible format, each subject is presented as a short, self-contained article, designed to be dipped into, yet both comprehensive and accurate. An index is provided for cross-reference purposeshistory is nothing if not interlinkedand a list of further reading. There is also a list of monarchs and an extended time line, covering most major events including those that, for reasons of space, do not have their own entries in the main text.

In short, this book will provide you with a useful introduction to and overview of British history, though if you want a detailed analysis of the effects of the repeal of the Corn Laws on nineteenth-century foreign trade you will, sadly, need to look elsewhere.

Like all the best and most enthralling stories, this countrys history is a tale of courage and character, honor and faith, pride and hope, skill and invention, endurance and, sometimes, sheer luck. Remember, Remember restores us to the gloriousand, often, not so gloriousnarrative of these islands story, and on the way reminds us of what weve forgotten, or teaches us what we were never taught.

The editors would like to thank, first of all, the author, Judy Parkinson, for her sterling research work and efficiency under extreme time pressure. We would also like to thank Dominique En-right and Jamie Buchan for their meticulous fact-checking, Ana Bjezancevic for the lovely cover design and map, and Claire and Toby Buchan for Britannia and much besides. Grateful thanks are also due to Thomas Edlin, historian at Westminster, for his thorough attention to detail and hugely helpful insights, and Dr. Frances Ramsey, also of Westminster School, for putting us on to him. Needless to say, any remaining mistakes are our own.