The British Imagination

Name: The British Imagination
Price: 24.99 AUD
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ISBN: 9781398513914

A History of Ideas from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II

Peter Watson

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Paperback

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English

Simon & Schuster
16 June 2026

History; British & Irish history

‘Extensive and intelligent . . . a guide to the nature of British intellectual curiosity’ Spectator

The reign of Queen Elizabeth I ushered in an unprecedented age of exploration and discovery. Over 500 years that saw ‘the greatest expansion of ideas and knowledge the world has ever seen’, a small island nation, for centuries a cultural backwater, asserted itself as a world power.

Breathtaking in scope, embracing literature, science, art, religion, philosophy and politics, The British Imagination brings to life those centuries between Elizabeth I and II, and asks the provocative question – are we still living in a British 'metaphysical empire'?

From the acclaimed author of The German Genius and The French Mind, this is a lively and deeply researched history of the most influential personalities and ideas that made modern Britain.

‘Intriguing insights about the contemporary Anglosphere . . . nuanced and appreciative’ Financial Times

‘Peter Watson has form when it comes to probing a nation’s psyche . . . Ambitious and stimulating’ Country Life

By: Peter Watson
Imprint: Simon & Schuster
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 32mm
ISBN: 9781398513914
ISBN 10: 1398513911
Pages: 544
Publication Date: 16 June 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Peter Watson is a journalist, television presenter and historian of ideas. He was a senior editor of the Sunday Times, New York correspondent of The Times and a columnist for the Observer. He has written for multiple publications, including the New York Times and Spectator. His books, which have been translated into more than 25 languages, include Ideas: A History from Fire to Freud, The German Genius, The French Mind and Convergence: The Idea at the Heart of Science.

Reviews for The British Imagination: A History of Ideas from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II

'This book is a grand endeavour in every sense . . . Watson offers a kaleidoscopic, often provocative insight into British intellectual and social development over the centuries' -- Alexander Larman * <i>Observer</i> * ‘This is a book with much to offer – Watson highlights the role of scientific innovation in shaping British identity, gives intriguing insights about the contemporary Anglosphere and delivers a nuanced and appreciative account of the post-imperial and migrant contribution to modern English writing’ -- Rowan Williams * <I>Financial Times</I> *