2007-05-15 Gives a good view of history through the Victorian period

I bought this having browsed dozens of books and found it was pitched well, didn't patronise, didn't have too much content on one particular topic, and had a range of overlapping themes e.g. Ireland, social change, particular individuals, foreign policy and so forth.

I wanted a guide to the changes that happened during the period of the nineteenth century as a backdrop to studying my family tree - I wasn't disappointed.

I was also very interested to find out how much of today's world is rooted in these times, and also how many things that were big changes then (extending the vote, education...) seem obvious in hindsight.

Well recommended and not just for students