In recent years it has 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. 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.

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.