Spanning two millennia from the Roman invasion in 43 A.D. to 1990 and including more than 4,500 incisive articles, The Columbia Companian to British History is the most authoritative, comprehensive, and accessible one-volume reference to the vast spectrum of British history. Six leading historians, recognized experts in their fields, have compiled this monumental volume, which encompasses the historical experiences of the people of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, both at home and abroad.

This unique reference contains chronologies of major events in British history and genealogies of its monarchs and prime ministers. Nine detailed historical maps depict tribal Britain prior to Roman conquest, various stages of Britain's colonial empire from the eighteenth century to 1930, and other critical eras in the nation's geographic past. Extensive cross-referencing ensures that relevant topics can be easily pursued.