"Learned, elegant, and thoughtful. One might almost say classy." -- John Naughton, The London Times "A book which displays the lucidity, learning, and imaginative grasp for which the author is already widely admired." -- Roger Scruton, Literary Review "By far the best study of this slippery subject that I have ever read." -- Peregrine Worsthorne, Spectator "Invariably stimulating... lights up the history of the past three centuries from an angle to which we are largely unaccustomed." -- Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph "Everyone interested in the evolution of contemporary Britain should read this book." -- Arthur Marwick, Observer "Fascinating and deeply enjoyable." -- Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The Atlantic Monthly