British History: Getting Started

Contains nearly 59,000 biographies (with over 11,000 portraits) of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond, from the earliest times to the present. Excludes living people.

The Oxford Companion to Black British History is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the long and fascinating history of black people in the British Isles, from African auxiliaries stationed on Hadrian's Wall in the 2nd century AD, through John Edmonstone, who taught taxidermy to Charles Darwin, Mary Seacole, the 'Black Florence Nightingale', and Walter Tull, footballer and First World War officer, to our own day. It considers such key concepts as Emancipation and Reparations.

Also Available in Print: Young Library - Books - 3rd Floor (DA125.N4 O94 2007)

This resource contains over 1,000 A-Z entries on the history of Britain, from ancient and Roman Britain to the present day. Each entry lists 6-12 of the best-known books on the subject, then discusses those works in an essay of 800 to 1,000 words prepared by an expert in the field. The essays provide advice on the range and depth of coverage as well as the emphasis and point of view espoused in each publication.

Available in Print: Young Library - Books - 3rd Floor (DA34 .R43 2003)

Written by over 100 specialist contributors, this dictionary describes the people and events that have shaped and defined domestic, political, social, and cultural life in Britain since 55 BC. Derived from the 'Oxford Companion to British History', 'A Dictionary of British History' has been a leading historical reference work since its publication in 2001.

This handbook covers over 400 years of British imperial history from the founding of the East India Company in 1600, to the 'First' and 'Second' British Empires, the time of 'High Empire' following the War of American Independence, the unprecedented expansion of the 'Scramble' for Africa, the development of Dominion Status and the history - often turbulent - of decolonization and the growth of Commonwealth. The 400-plus entries include a rich panoply of individuals, territories, treaties, politics, the law, diplomacy, war and peace, administration, business and commerce, exploration, literature, art, literature and scholarship. Readers will find factual information, in concise form, with expert historical assessment, cross-referencing between entries and suggestions for further reading. The time-line is essential to pick through the long period of complex history and links to key web resources are provided.

Available in Print: Young Library - Books - 4th Floor (JV1101 .F384 2011)