A Brief History of Britain 1851-2010, A Nation Transformed

by Jeremy Black

You might have missed this book when it was originally printed but it has recently been re-released. It’s helpful for genealogists because it covers the period from the second UK census in 1851 right up to the 21st century. So, if you find an ancestor in an early census you can use this publication as a ‘guidebook’ to many of the changes that you and your forebears have witnessed over the period. Starting in the heart of the Victorian era, the author covers subjects such as population expansion, industrialisation, the growth of culture and media, religious change, and the evolution of politics and electoral reform. He also describes changes in healthcare, the ways in which women were perceived, and the growth and demise of the British Empire. There are also sections on Britain’s changing relationship with Europe and the growth of environmentalism.

The book is a well-written and accessible overview of history, which serves as a valuable introduction to a wide breadth of subjects connected with British society, culture, politics and identity. Some readers will find the brevity welcome and satisfying, whilst others will be stimulated to go elsewhere and seek greater depth.

• Published by Robinson, 2011 (re-released 2021), paperback, ISBN 9781408713617 (Review by Dr Simon Wills)