The History of Britain Companion (The Companion Series) - Hardcover

Ever wonder what happens to the 36,000 tennis balls used at the annual Wimbledon championships? Or what was on the menu at Henry IV s coronation? Would you like to know how to master the Japanese art of packing a rucksack? Or how to say hello in 20 different languages? These delightfully eclectic, exceedingly collectable volumes are bursting with useful trivia and quirky facts to amuse and amaze. Pleasingly designed, eminently browsable, downright addictive."

From King Harold to Elizabeth II, this fascinating and unique book offers a view of the oddities, quirks, origins and stories behind the history of Britain that has made the country what it is today. Starting, quite literally at the beginning, the reader is taken on an unorthodox tour through the lesser known nuggets of British history. `The History of Britain Companion' provides the reader with a fascinating range of notes, quotes, facts and stats. Britons have always been fond of looking backwards and now is no exception. The television schedules are brimming with history programmes and the rise of the celebrity historian continues. Hollywood is more than keen to plunder the history books for material too, the recent production of `King Arthur' being just one example. `The History of Britain Companion' doesn't just contain fascinating snippets of information; it also offers extracts from some of the finest writing through the ages. Bill Bryson looks back with John Betjeman, while George Orwell considers the Brits with Simon Schama. And like all other books in the Companion series, there's a great piece of statistical trivia to match each page number.