Albion Ascendant: English History, 1660-1815 (Short Oxford History of the Modern World) - Softcover

'Students and general readers are likely to find this book useful . . . Prest offers some telling and nice observations. ... Many students will be grateful for the help he provides in finding ways through the murky shoals of long-standing debates about the industrial revolution. ... Throughout the book, he brings detachment and balance to the often difficult and fractured historiography of the period. ... The book is clearly structured and easy to use, and the writing is never less than clear. It also includes a chronology and, more importantly, a useful guide to further reading.' (Bob Harris, University of Dundee, in History)

'Admirable contribution to a series.' (Ernst Wangermann, University of Salzburg/EHR)

' An excellent overview of Britain in the 18th Century, giving an important historical grounding against which cultural history students can set the key thinkers and literary works of the age.' (Dr Leigh Clayton, University of Aberdeen)

'A clear and reliable introduction for students.' (Annual Bulletin of Historical Literature)

Between the restoration of Charles II and the battle of Waterloo, England gradually emerged as the core nation of the most formidable superpower the world had yet seen. Wilfrid Prest investigates this remarkable transformation from domestic instability and external weakness to global, economic, and military predominance. Geographically, the main focus is on England and Wales, but Prest also analyses the broader British context, discussing the role played by Ireland and Scotland, as well as the interrelations between England, Europe, and the wider world. He examines the lives of ordinary people as well as the ruling elite, and explores the distinctive nature of women's experiences, allowing the voices of the past to speak directly to the modern reader. The result is a lively, up-to-date, and comprehensive overview of Britain's 'long eighteenth century'. It will remain a standard text on the subject for many years to come.