Jersey has a remarkable history, especially during the many centuries since it became an exposed, surviving outpost of Duke William"s Duchy, within sight of France yet attached to the English Crown. More than most mainland people, its inhabitants are fiercely conscious of their special identity and history; while more than most islanders they are aware of the uniqueness of their heritage, produced by the interaction of two cultures and two rich sources of tradition. It is not surprising that when the first great History of the Island of Jersey appeared in 1959 it enjoyed such immediate popularity that it soon ran out of print. The result of long years of careful and scholarly research by G.R. Balleine, it was instantly accepted as the definitive history of the island. Books are often described as a "classic," but few justify the accolade as thoroughly as this great work, which enjoys an unrivalled pre-eminence in Jersey literature. This new edition will maintain its position as the book on Jersey well into the next millennium. It will be welcomed by Jersey people everywhere.