In 2016, Britain stunned itself and the world by voting to pull out of
the European Union, leaving financial markets reeling and global
politicians and citizens in shock. But was Brexit really a surprise, or
are there clues in Britain's history that pointed to this moment? In A
History of Britain: 1945 to the Brexit, award-winning historian Jeremy
Black reexamines modern British history, considering the social changes,
economic strains, and cultural and political upheavals that brought
Britain to Brexit. This sweeping and engaging book traces Britain's path
through the destruction left behind by World War II, Thatcherism, the
threats of the IRA, the Scottish referendum, and on to the impact of
waves of immigration from the European Union. Black overturns many
conventional interpretations of significant historical events, provides
context for current developments, and encourages the reader to question
why we think the way we do about Britain's past.