Hodder & Stoughton 2009

What does the delicate beauty of the Wilton Diptych reveal about medieval Britain? How do Francis Bacon s lurid canvases reflect the bloody upheavals of the twentieth century? Are there any similarities between the minds that produced Beowulf and 1984? Why do St Paul s Cathedral and the Crown Jewels look the way they do?From the Iron Age onwards, art has been a mirror to Britain capturing the people and heralding the major events of each era. In Seven Ages of Britain David Dimbleby uncovers the fascinating story of how British art reflects British history.Beginning with the mysterious Pictish carvings and Roman mosaics that reveal the legacy of Britain s many invaders, David Dimbleby guides us through the seven ages of Britain. He journeys from the riches of the Middle Ages, to the innovation of the Restoration, the exotica of the British Empire and finally to twentieth-century modernism.Bringing together leading experts, who vividly capture each period of history, Seven Ages of Britain is a unique exploration of British history through its most beautiful and influential works of art....