The British: A Portrait Of An Indomitable Island People

"Aside from being Britain's favorite topic of conversation, its weather is famous for being mischievous and troublesome. This is less true for parts of Britain where people can generally be confident of bad weather-if it's not raining there now, it soon will be," - The British, N. Gelb.

From Julius Caesar's failed first attempt to invade Britain in 55 BC to Thatcher's time in office, The British analyses what makes the Brits who they are and how social life and customs have changed over time:

The influence of the women's rights movement and social restrictions British women continue to face.

The British Empire's 'duty' to civilise its colonies, it's decline and the continuing issues of integration.

How the British government, the monarchy, and international relations work.

The value of a good old pub, minding your own business, and the timeless weather question.

Recommended for fans of Bill Bryson, Jeremy Paxman and Andrew Marr.

Praise for 'Scramble'

"Deftly combining interviews, speeches, news reports, military communications and occasional unobtrusive narrative, Gelb presents a many-sided picture of war that reflects the feeling of the battle" - New York Times Book Review

Praise for 'Dunkirk'

"Norman Gelb finds fresh angles ... Dunkirk stands as an exemplar of the perils of vacillation and the possibilities of action." - The New York Times Book Review

"Mr. Gelb has excavated beneath surface events, delved into political and psychological factors, and produced an intelligent, fast-moving narrative." - Professor Arnold Ages, Baltimore Sun

NORMAN GELB was born in New York. He was, for many years, a correspondent for the Mutual Broadcasting System, first in Berlin and then in London. He is currently the London correspondent for New Leader magazine.

Gelb is the author of numerous acclaimed titles including, 'Dunkirk: The Complete Story of the First Step in the Defeat of Hitler', and 'Scramble: A Narrative History of the Battle of Britain'.