A People's History of Britain tells the story - from the Romans to the present day - of the small northern islands off the coast of Europe which became the world's biggest empire. Rebecca Fraser's dramatic portrayal of the larger-than-life characters who forged Britain's national institutions is an enjoyable introduction to British history, and a useful chronology of the past. Just as much as kings, queens, battles and conquest, Britain's great themes have been the liberty of the individual, the rule of law, and the parliamentary democracy invented to protect them. Ever since Caractacus and Boudicca surprised the Romans with the bravery of their opposition, Britain stood out as the home of freedom. From Stephen Langton to Thomas More, from John Hampden to William Wilberforce, from Gladstone to Churchill, British history is studded with heroic figures. They have resisted tyranny in all its guises whether it be the Stuart kings' belief in Divine Right, the institution of slavery, or the ambitions of Napoleon and Hitler. This highly readable account of the men and women who created turning points in history is packed with anecdotes about British scientists, explorers, soldiers, traders, writers and artists. Rebecca Fraser's sparkling narrative has the sweep and pace of an epic.