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A History of Britain in 21 Paintings

An Illuminating Journey through British history, from the Sunday Times bestselling author

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A History of Britain in 21 Paintings

By: Alice Loxton
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Summary

AN ILLUMINATING HISTORY OF BRITAIN FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR ALICE LOXTON

The past is like a dark forest. Most of the details of our ancestors’ lives are forgotten, lost in the mists of time. Yet there are many sources – fireflies – that survive to illuminate our understanding of the past. In this case, those fireflies are paintings.

In this vibrant and insightful book, Alice Loxton travels across Britain in search of twenty-one extraordinary paintings. From the wall art of St Cadoc’s Church near Cardiff and the exquisite detail of daily life portrayed by L.S. Lowry to landmark works including ‘The Rainbow Portrait’ of Elizabeth I and Millais’ ‘Ophelia’, Loxton creates a fresh, transformative history of Britain.

Considering each piece from the viewer’s perspective, she explores how it feels standing before them, what they are trying to tell and what their real-life inspiration reveals about the period when they were created. Along the way, Loxton explores the lives of everyday people, unveils the historical, social and cultural shifts these paintings reflected and inspired, and challenges some of Britain’s most famous myths (who really was St George? Did the people of the Middle Ages think the world was flat? Why do Scots wear tartan? Why do us Brits love going to the pub?).

This sweeping book reminds us that there are incredible stories to be discovered all across Britain, if only we take the time to look.

© Alice Loxton 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

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Critic reviews

An entertaining, illuminating tour of British history filled with delightful stories, witty anecdotes and an abundance of remarkable paintings (Terry Deary)
A champion of British heritage in full voice… Join the most enthusiastic of tour guides, Alice Loxton, as she highlights the profound visual histories to be found in every corner of the land. (Luke Sherlock)
Alice Loxton has a brilliant talent for digging out history's most extraordinary stories and bringing them to life. This is a fascinating journey through Britain’s past, told in her characteristically engaging and witty style. Coming to the end, you are left wanting 21 more! (Jack Chesher)
A glittering jewel-box of a book. From exquisite Dark Ages gospels to a sacred white horse, from the fogs of Claude Monet to LS Lowry’s football visions, via Queen Elizabeth’s rainbow and the unearthly light and science of Joseph Wright of Derby, Alice Loxton guides us not only through national history, but also the amazing stories of the nation’s most enduring art-works and their preservation. Delightful, engaging, packed with surprising by-ways and endlessly illuminating. (Sinclair McKay)
A delightful romp through more than one thousand years of British art and history (Elizabeth Goldring)
Loxton brings the past to life with wit, wonderment and an irrepressible curiosity. History has never been such fun! (Ruby Gray)
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