Any historian who attempts to write an overview of British history from the Anglo-Scottish Union of 1707 to the entry into the European Community is bound to be heavily indebted to the work of others. In such a small compass their contributions will inevitably be compressed to the point of distortion, and I apologise here to the many scholars whose writings I have synthesised so succinctly that they might not even recognise them or, if they did, would disown them. This book is not intended for them. Rather it aims at readers who, while they might be on nodding terms with the outlines of modern British history, seek a concise résumé of recent scholarship.

Since my own area of expertise is the eighteenth century, two colleagues at Leeds, David Steele and Richard Whiting, kindly read the chapters on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They, together with the anonymous referees for Cambridge University Press, offered criticisms which saved me from many blunders. Any which survive are entirely my responsibility.

I wish also to thank others who helped to make this book possible. Leeds University granted me a term's study leave in the spring of 1989 which enabled me to make a start. Adrian Wilson rented me his house in Cambridge at intervals where much of the research was undertaken. My brother Jack generously let me have the use of his flat in Filey where most of the writing was completed. Mary Geiter and my daughter Jackie read rough drafts and suggested appropriate improvements. Finally William Davies of Cambridge University Press was very supportive throughout.