This is a bold book in its chronological range and synoptic vision. Kenneth Campbell has an outsider's penetrating eye in exploring, century on century, the complex ways in which Britain and Ireland have evolved. There could be no better time than the present to study this guide to their past. * Keith Robbins, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Wales-Lampeter, UK * Kenneth Campbell's A History of the British Isles: Prehistory to Present draws upon the latest scholarship to provide a lively narrative that embeds political developments in a rich cultural and social context. Its accessible prose and comprehensive scope will make it valuable as a text for both introductory and more advanced surveys of British history. * Gail Savage, Professor of History, St. Mary's College of Maryland, USA * In this compelling survey of the British Isles from prehistory to the present, Kenneth Campbell skillfully blends narrative and analysis in a satisfying synthesis. His scholarship is fresh and up to date, his conclusions are judicious and his writing is crystal clear. The book will serve as an invaluable introduction for undergraduates, a useful aid for teachers and an engaging text for general readers. * Brian Lewis, Professor of History, McGill University, Canada * It is ironic that good, recent, comprehensive histories of Britain are so hard to find, when the minutiae of British history have provided topics for thousands of publications over the past 20 years. Campbell (Monmouth Univ.) addresses this scarcity splendidly in his clear and lively text, incorporating traditional and recent scholarship with a deft hand that avoids the burden of dry prose. In one section, the author explains that the geographic mobility traditionally considered one of the consequences of the 14th-century Black Death actually had begun before the outbreak of the epidemic, as had political discontent among the population, also traditionally attributed to the plague's aftermath. He points out that the psychological effects of the plague had a significant impact on the interdependence of survivors. Instead of loosening the bonds of community, the experience of the Black Death strengthened connections, even where people moved to other places, creating what Campbell refers to as "networks of village relationships." In essence, the Black Death only hastened changes that would have occurred eventually. Excellent. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. * CHOICE *