Description

In recent years it’s become fashionable to tell a certain kind of story about Britain. At its least offensive, this story emphasises the worst aspects of Britain’s past and neglects the best. At its most damaging, it denies, demeans or distorts the very fabric of our collective inheritance.

In Our Islands’ Story, Nigel Biggar and Robert Tombs aim to tell a better story about Britain. Though not without fault, they argue, Britain’s history is rich in achievements of enduring value that deserve our appreciation and care.

This short and balanced history of the British Isles is the distillation of two lifetimes of esteemed scholarship. It offers both a powerful antidote to contemporary cynicism about Britain’s past and an uplifting reminder of what we should carry with us into the future.

Publisher Review

‘How immensely refreshing to read a history of Britain based entirely on facts, evidence and truth, rather than the corrosive woke self-hatred of much of today’s denunciations of our country’s story. The two professors deserve great praise for pointing out that, amongst its occasional and acknowledged flaws, Britain has improved the world hugely by her exertions and example’ – Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny ‘In this brilliantly clear and compellingly readable book, two renowned scholars – an ethicist and a historian – come together to dispel the demoralising negativity that surrounds the British inheritance. Boldly challenging the crude progressive mythology in which our history is a dismal chronicle of oppression and exploitation, they present a fresh and vivid account of Britain’s positive achievements that is packed with neglected and surprising facts. Our Islands’ Story should be in every thinking person’s library’ – John Gray, author of The New Leviathans: thoughts after liberalism ‘For many today, Britain’s past is too often reduced to a caricature, shaped by how other peoples and nations wish to portray it and frequently pressed into service for contemporary political agendas. This book lifts that veil, inviting readers to engage with Britain’s history on its own terms. Our Islands’ Story challenges partisan narratives while offering a lucid and compelling account that restores context, nuance, and complexity in place of stereotypes’ – Professor Tirthankar Roy ‘Relentlessly negative accounts of English and British history continue to stream from the presses. Hats off to Nigel Biggar and Robert Tombs for restoring the balance. Without any attempt to whitewash the less savoury aspects of British history, their lucidly written and powerful book will do much to bring back a saner and more accurate perspective on the British past’ – Professor Krishan Kumar, University of Virginia ‘Our Islands’ Story offers a refreshing account of the good things that Britain and her Empire have done. At a time when Britain is blamed for all the evils in the world, Lord Biggar and Professor Tombs present a picture of a country worth loving’ – Dr Marie Kawthar Daouda, author of Not Your Victim