Pollard sets out to explain how a little island, often conquered, became a great empire. In a few lively chapters he runs from the Roman and Saxon foundations through the Norman submergence, the emergence of the English people, the growth of nationalism and the long struggle for self-government, with telling sketches of figures like Charles II and Danby.
An elegant short history by a leading Tudor historian, ideal as a first overview of English political development. Download the free EPUB.