Albion Ascendant: English History 1660-1815
Date
1998
Authors
Prest, W.
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Book
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Abstract
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.