Focus on the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom explores the history, culture, and people of one of the most influential countries in the world. Once a remote outpost of the Roman Empire, the small island country grew to become a mighty empire in its own right, spreading its language, culture, and political influence across much of the world. After centuries of colonizing lands in North America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland suffered and then recovered from two world wars in the twentieth century and gave most of its colonies their independence. The UK has now emerged as a culturally rich and diverse country that continues to play a vital role, politically, culturally, and economically, on the international stage. Today, the British people enjoy a strong economy and a dynamic multicultural society, and they are working to tackle the political and environmental problems of the twenty-first century. Book jacket.