The history of England is a continuous movement and a series of constant changes. But the entire history of England, starting from primitive times, is permeated by continuity, so that the main thing in it is not change, but constancy. To this day, in England one can feel an inextricable connection with the past, with traditions and customs. Until now, this country, which has always been one, has resisted change in any aspect of life. Peter Ackroyd shows the origins of England's age-old continuity, conservatism and commitment to the past. This book shows the history of England from the Neolithic period, the first settlements and the construction of Stonehenge to the construction of medieval cathedrals, the formation of universal law and the end of the reign of the first Tudor king, Henry VII. The story is about successive waves of invaders - Romans, Vikings, Saxons and Normans, about warring kings, about civil strife within the country and about foreign wars. Ackroyd's work, rightfully considered one of the best English writers, recreates not only political history, the everyday life of the royals and the vicissitudes of their relationships, but also the everyday life of ordinary people with its traditions, customs and material culture. A solid historical and literary work, equipped with 51 color illustrations, will be of interest to a wide range of readers.