Publisher's Synopsis
Prior to 1707, England had a tenuous grip on a few islands around the globe, some established commitments to colonies on the east coast of America and a shared interest in some parts of Canada, but there was no English Empire... In that year the Union of England and Scotland was enacted during the reign of Queen Anne who inherited the burden of being embroiled in the War of the Spanish Succession. The war ended in 1714 with the new entity, Great Britain, victorious thanks largely to the joint army under the command of the Duke of Marlborough. Concessions of territory from France and Spain plus the most powerful navy ever built, left the new Great Britain as the most powerful nation in the world. In Europe after Marlborough there followed the Seven Years War, twenty-two years of Napoleonic Wars including Wellington in the Peninsular and Nelson's four great battles. Britain was also at war with the USA for part of the same period, and the Crimean War and both World Wars are covered in detail. There Was a Time takes a measured look at the many and varied triumphs and tribulations to which Britain has been party since that time, mainly in European and Imperial conflicts but also taking breaks to look at the changing nature of life in Britain with the passage of time. Accounts are also given of major events in other countries, which defined the times and would have some impact upon British interests. There Was a Time gives us a fascinating look back over Britain's rich history. Written in an informative, easy-to-read style, it will equally appeal to the expert and novice historian.
