Jeremy Black's vigorous and fascinating study tells the story of a group of islands, their peoples, and their remarkable impact on the rest of the world. From the earliest pre-history right up to the present day, this stirring account describes the astonishingly varied stages through which the British Isles have passed to achieve their current identity. Unlike most other texts, 'A History of the British Isles' is not just a history of England. Proper weight is given to all four, often fractious, components of the British Isles -- England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales - providing the reader with an admirably balanced and absorbing narrative of an extraordinary shared past. Thoroughly revised and up-to-date, this timely third edition now contains fresh insights and incorporates more material on social and cultural history.