A sparkling anecdotal account with the pace of an epic, about the men and women who created turning points in history. Rebecca Fraser's dramatic portrayal of the scientists, statesmen, explorers, soldiers, traders, and artists who forged Britain's national institutions is the perfect introduction to British history.Just as much as kings and queens, battles and empire, Britain's great themes have been the liberty of the individual, the rule of law, and the parliamentary democracy invented to protect them. Ever since Caractacus and Boudicca surprised the Romans with the bravery of their resistance, Britain has stood out as the home of freedom. From Thomas More to William Wilberforce, from Gladstone to Churchill, Britain's history is studded with heroic figures who have resisted tyranny in all its guises, whether it be the Stuart kings' belief in divine right, the institution of slavery, or the ambitions of Napoleon and Hitler.

麗貝卡•弗雷澤（Rebecca Fraser）

英國文學傢、曆史學者、BBC曆史撰稿人。

弗雷澤生於1957年。她齣身英國朗福德伯爵世傢，傢人多是行走於政府和宮廷高層的政界、文化界要員。母親安東尼婭•弗雷澤是英國作傢、曆史學傢，著有記傳體通史《曆代英王生平》，她是《英國人的故事》的顧問和最早的讀者。麗貝卡•弗雷澤的繼父則是已故諾貝爾文學奬得主哈羅德•品特。《英國人的故事》的筆調，洋溢著貴族式的通達和自信。

麗貝卡•弗雷澤有深厚的文學和曆史研究造詣。她是BBC曆史網站1918—1945年內容的撰寫者。曾長期擔任古老的英語作傢紀念和研究團體——勃朗特協會（The Brontë Society）的會長，專注研究著名英國作傢勃朗特姐妹。她著有《夏洛蒂•勃朗特傳》《勃朗特傢族》，以及新書《五月花號》，一部以個人史視角寫作的美洲移民往事。 她還為多傢報刊執筆寫作，包括《時代周刊》《時尚》《旁觀者》等等。