The Oxford Companion to British History

Here, in a single convenient volume, is the essential reference book for anyone with an interest in British history. First published in 1997, under the editorship of the late John Cannon and in consultation with over 100 distinguished contributors, thisCompanion has now been updated by Robert Crowcroft to include the very latest scholarship and research. It describes and analyses the people and events that have shaped and defined life in Britain over more than 2,000 years of political, social, and cultural change, encompassing topics as diverse as the War of the Roses, the Blitz, Stonehenge, Henry VIII, the suffragettes, the industrial revolution, the NHS, the Suez Crisis, the TUC, and the Afghan campaign.

Over 4,500 entries provide a wealth of fact and insight on all aspects of the subject and from a variety of perspectives, including social, political, military, cultural, economic, scientific, and feminist. Entries cover not only monarchs, battles, and political events, but also the wider aspects of British history over the centuries. New entries on topics such asalternative vote, the 2008 financial crisis, Olympics in Britain, and the Scottish Independence Referendum, andUKIP ensure that the Companion remains relevant and current. Useful appendices include maps and genealogies, as well as a subject index.

Coverage includes authors, composers and musicians, legal and technical terms, newspapers and periodicals, ranks and orders, sport and leisure, and scholarship and education. For those who like to explore history on the ground, there are also entries on individual counties, cathedrals, and churches, palaces and royal residences, and a range of other sites of historical significance. As well as providing reliable factual information, theCompanion also offers detailed interpretation and analysis, giving readers a sense of how events and personalities relate to each other, whilst its multi-disciplinary approach places topics in a wide context.

Whether you need to check the date of the Peasants' Revolt, understand what happened at theBattle of Imphal, find out about the history of maypoles, or compare the careers of successivePrinces of Wales, The Oxford Companion to British History is a book no home reference shelf should be without.

John Cannon was formerly Professor of Modern History at The University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His books includeThe Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy and The Blackwell Dictionary of Historians.


Robert Crowcroft is a lecturer in Contemporary History at the University of Edinburgh. His first book,Attlee's War: World War II and the Making of a Labour Leader (2011), was named one of the best books of 2011 inTotal Politics magazine. He also co-edited The Philosophy, Politics and Religion ofBritish Democracy: Maurice Cowling and Conservatism (2010).