What did the Romans do for us? Did King Arthur really exist? Who was Bloody Mary? Why did Great Britain go to war with Napoleon? Formed out of a union of warring Germanic kingdoms in the tenth century ad, England rose to become the most powerful nation in the world and the operations room of an empire spanning a quarter of the world's land surface. The Little History of England tells the great story of English history as simply as possible. This fast-paced and comprehensive narrative takes the reader on a journey from the beginning of the world to the present day. Historian Jonathan McGovern brings an insider's perspective into play, explaining the real significance behind the tumultuous history of this remarkable country.