Another competently written volume in the Time-Life Library of Nations series, this one deals with Britain in the 1980s. with of course some background on the geography and natural resources, medieval history, especially the growth of democratic institutions, culture and civilization, national psychology, and so on. The volume especially appeals to me, as it was in the mid-1980s that I moved to Bangor, Wales, for a PhD, so it brings up memories of the world of that time, as well as affording a better understanding of my own experience of my stay there. ( )