The second edition of this deservedly popular account follows its predecessor in considering seven broad, interrelated themes: the environment; people; class; poverty and welfare; life and leisure; religion; and education. Like the first, the second edition of Modern Britain recognizes the different histories of England, Scotland, and Wales within their British context. It also treats themes chronologically, which allows for easier identification and discussion of the historical continuities and discontinuities in the making of modern Britain. However, it differs in its extended chronology (the considerable changes in society between 1985 and 1997 are now part of the picture), and it incorporates new currents in historical writing on matters such as the language of class, the position of women, and secularization. Providing single-volume coverage over a long period without sacrificing in-depth treatment, Modern Britain is a book that is both highly scholarly and highly readable.