A History of Modern Britain: 1714 to the Present

A History of Modern Britain: 1714 to the Present  presents a lively introduction to the history of the modern British Isles from the Hanoverian succession to the present day. The book conveys the broad sweep of the period’s major events with particular emphasis placed on observing Britain′s past from a global context, including imperialism′s role in shaping social, economic, and political developments at home. Ellis Wasson explores the relationships between Great Britain′s three nations – Scotland, England, and Wales – and Ireland, and the development of their unique national identities. He also discusses controversies that remain in dispute between historians today and reflects on new perspectives in British history. The story is punctuated throughout with description of fascinating personalities from Britain′s past, from celebrated statesmen to lesser known characters, including the eighteenth–century shopkeeper Thomas Turner, the arsonist James Aitken, the female adventurer Jane Digby, the celebrity footballer George Best and the writer Dorothy Sayers. The vignettes complement the broader story and give the reader a sense of the rich variety of British life during the modern era. The book is accompanied by a companion website, including online supplements and a preliminary chapter covering events from 1688. A History of Modern Britain provides readers with a firm understanding of the period of Britain′s history that defined its role in the modern world.

List of Figures. List of Tables. List of Maps. List of Biographies. Preface. Acknowledgments. Part I: Uniting the Kingdoms. 1. The British Isles in 1714. 2. A New Beginning, 1714–62. 3. War and Revolution, 1763–1814. Part II: The British Century. 4. A United Kingdom, 1815. 5. Reform, 1816–41. 6. Imperial Britain, 1842–84. 7. New Century, 1885–1913. Part III: Dividing the Kingdoms. 8. The United Kingdom, 1914. 9. War and Peace and War, 1915–39. 10. The Warfare and Welfare State, 1940–79. 11. "New" Britain, 1980–2008. Notes. Chronology. Glossary. Select Bibliography. List of Prime Ministers. Genealogy of the Royal Family. Index.

Ellis Wasson teaches at Tower Hill School in Wilmington and the University of Delaware. He is the author of Whig Renaissance: Lord Althorp and the Whig Party 1782–1845 (1987), Born to Rule: British Political Elites (2000) and Aristocracy and the Modern World (2006) and has published numerous articles on the history of British politics and European landed society.