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 there is an inextricable connection with the past, with traditions and customs. Until now, this country has resisted change in any aspect of life. Peter Ackroyd shows the origins of England's centuries-long persistence, conservatism and commitment to the past. The narrative in this book begins with an analysis of the reasons why national glory after the Battle of Waterloo gave way to a long period of post-war depression. Covers the events of the times of George IV, whose government was led by Lord Liverpool, who was strongly opposed to reform, and the reign of William IV, nicknamed the “Sailor King,” whose rule was marked by the modernization of the political system and the abolition of slavery. The era of major innovation began with the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne at the age of eighteen. Technological progress swept the entire country, the emergence of a middle class changed the face of society, and scientific advances transformed the old views of the Anglican Church and contributed to the spread of secular ideas. Intensive industrialization brought success and prosperity to factory owners, but the working classes still suffered in conditions of poor housing, long working hours, and extreme poverty. And at the same time, it was the heyday of literature: readers had the opportunity to enjoy the work of poets - Byron, Shelley and Wordsworth, as well as the great novelists of the 19th century: the Brontë sisters, George Eliot, Elizabeth Gaskell, Thackeray and Dickens, with whose works Victorian England became associated . In politics, expansionism was no longer limited to Britain itself: by the end of her reign, Victoria became the Empress of India, and the British Empire dominated most of the globe and confirmed its right to be considered the “mistress of the seas.” A deep, multi-dimensional historical analysis is accompanied by many literary quotations and rich illustrative material .The publishing design is preserved in PDF A4 format.