Contents

TALE OF A WHALE

JOHN LOCKE AND TOLERATION

‘REMEMBER THE BOYNE!’ – THE BIRTH OF THE ORANGEMEN

BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES – THE TRIANGULAR TRADE

JETHRO TULL’S ‘DRILL’ AND THE MINER’S FRIEND

MARLBOROUGH CATCHES THE FRENCH SLEEPING AT THE VILLAGE OF THE BLIND

UNION JACK

MADE IN GERMANY

SOUTH SEA BUBBLE

BRITAIN’S FIRST PRIME MINISTER

BORN AGAIN

DICK TURPIN – ‘STAND AND DELIVER!’

GOD SAVE THE KING!

DR JOHNSON’S DICTIONARY

GENERAL WOLFE AND THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC

JAMES HARGREAVES AND THE SPINNING JENNY

CAPTAIN COOK – MASTER OF THE PILOTAGE

THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

THOMAS CLARKSON – THE GIANT WITH ONE IDEA

THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE III

‘BREADFRUIT BLIGH’ AND THE MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY

THOMAS PAINE AND THE RIGHTS OF MAN

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT AND THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN

ENGLAND EXPECTS . . .

FANNY BURNEY’S BREAST

WHO WAS NED LUDD?

WELLINGTON AND WATERLOO

STONE TREASURES – MARY ANNING AND THE TERROR LIZARDS

BLOOD ON THE TRACKS

THE LUNG POWER OF ORATOR HUNT

THE TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS

‘I WILL BE GOOD’ – VICTORIA BECOMES QUEEN

‘GOD’S WONDERFUL RAILWAY’ – ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL

RAIN, STEAM & SPEED – THE SHIMMERING VISION OF J.M.W. TURNER

PRINCE ALBERT’S CRYSTAL PALACE

‘WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!’ – THE BIRKENHEAD DRILL

INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH

THE LADY OF THE LAMP AND THE LADY WITH THE TEACUP (PLUS THE ODD SIP OF BRANDY)

CHARLES DARWIN AND THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

THE GREAT STINK – AND THE TRAGEDY OF THE PRINCESS ALICE

LORD ROSEBERY’S HISTORICAL HOWLER

ANNIE BESANT AND ‘PHOSSY JAW’ – THE STRIKE OF THE MATCH GIRLS

DIAMOND JUBILEE – THE EMPIRE MARCHES BY

SLAUGHTER ON SPION KOP

EDWARD VII AND THE ENTENTE CORDIALE

CELLAR MURDERER CAUGHT BY WIRELESS – DR CRIPPEN

‘I MAY BE SOME TIME . . .’ – THE SACRIFICE OF CAPTAIN OATES

THE KING’S HORSE AND EMILY DAVISON

WHEN CHRISTMAS STOPPED A WAR

PATRIOTISM IS NOT ENOUGH – EDITH CAVELL

YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU! – THE SHEFFIELD PALS

A COUNTRY FIT FOR HEROES?

THE GREATEST HISTORY BOOK EVER

NOT CRICKET – ‘BODYLINE’ BOWLING WINS THE ASHES

EDWARD THE ABDICATOR

PEACE FOR OUR TIME! – MR CHAMBERLAIN TAKES A PLANE

DUNKIRK – BRITAIN’S ARMY SAVED BY THE LITTLE BOATS

BATTLE OF BRITAIN – THE FEW AND THE MANY

CODE-MAKING, CODE-BREAKING – ‘THE LIFE THAT I HAVE’

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

DECODING THE SECRET OF LIFE

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCE NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS