Description
Book SynopsisThis is the story of how the territory of the British nation was won and parts of it were lost. It was the English who by conquest, treaty and ruthless colonisation won sovereignty over what are known as the British Islands – the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. It was England’s aggressive predations which led to the formation of the uneasy union with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, perhaps explaining the commonplace confusion between “English” and “British”. The looser federal relationship with the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands perhaps explains why they are happier with their lot.
Trade Review"Pundits . . . should read Iain Milligan's highly enjoyable
Sovereign of the Isles, which explains how we came to be a United Kingdom in the first place and how it evolved to its present, increasingly disunited, state." * Daily Telegraph (UK) *
"This timely, engrossing chronicle of conquest, treaty and colonisation pieces together, with excellent accompanying illustrations, the story of how the English won sovereignty over the British Isles." * Country Life (UK) *
"If you’ve ever wondered how the English ultimately won sovereignty of the British Isles then this book, which describes the uneasy union, is a good starting point. . . . For centuries England saw themselves as overlords of Scotland and in this book, Milligan describes the tactics and treaties employed by the English to gain power and bring the four countries under one Crown." * Scotland Magazine (UK) *
