Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives

The Instant Sunday Times BestsellerBlackwell's Book of the YearShortlisted for Waterstones Book of the YearHistorian, presenter and bestselling author, Alice Loxton, gives a scintillating new history of Britain, told through eighteen figures in British history at the age of eighteen.

– Tracy Borman, author of The King's WitchAt eighteen, your life is full of what-ifs and why-nots. You have everything to look forward to – unless you've got the plague… What happens if the First World War breaks out while you're at university?

How does a young woman, born without arms or legs, make a living in Georgian London?

What turns a rugby-obsessed teenager from a Welsh mining town into Richard Burton?

In this unconventional and witty history, award-winning writer and broadcaster Alice Loxton delves into Britain's past, exploring the country through eighteen notable figures at that most formative age of eighteen. From a young Elizabeth Tudor facing deadly intrigue at court, to Empress Matilda already changing the fate of nations, Eighteen invites readers to join an eclectic cast of young Britons across the nation and throughout its history.

Filled with fascinating stories of royalty, explorers, writers and entertainers, Eighteen asks what lessons we can learn for modern Britain.

– James Holland, bestselling author and historian

Book details

• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pan Books
• Published: 05 June 2025
• Dimensions: 130 x 197 x 23 mm
• ISBN: 9781035031290