Birth of Britain
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This is a vivid narrative account of the events, troubles and triumphs of the opening decade of the eighteenth century - of the life and death of Prince George, the trial of Dr Sacheverell, the Great Wind of 1703, the duke of Marlborough's victories in Europe, and of the union of Scotland with England and Wales - the creation of the British nation.
After an introduction setting the social and political scene, a chapter is devoted to each year. The rhythm of life was conditioned by frequent general elections of which there were no less than six, and the country was in an almost permanent state of election fever. Scotland too underwent a decisive election in 1703 which paved the way for the Union of 1707. Whether or not (as the author enquires) this was the greatest political conspiracy of the century, Scots now shared with English voters in contests for the return of MPs - to what for the first time could be called the Parliament of Great Britain.
After an introduction setting the social and political scene, a chapter is devoted to each year. The rhythm of life was conditioned by frequent general elections of which there were no less than six, and the country was in an almost permanent state of election fever. Scotland too underwent a decisive election in 1703 which paved the way for the Union of 1707. Whether or not (as the author enquires) this was the greatest political conspiracy of the century, Scots now shared with English voters in contests for the return of MPs - to what for the first time could be called the Parliament of Great Britain.
W. A. Speck has been Professor of Modern History at the University of Leeds since 1983. He has taught at the universities of Exeter, Newcastle upon Tyne and Hull, and held visiting professorships at Portland State University and the College of William and Mary in the USA. He is currently engaged on research into England's North American colonies in the eighteenth century. His previous books include Stability and Strife: England 1714-1760 (Arnold, 1977); The Butcher: The Duke of Cumberland and the Suppression of the '45 (Blackwell).