Alice Loxton – författare

Alice Loxton, author of the acclaimed Eighteen and Uproar! embarks on an extraordinary historical journey through England, walking in the footsteps of a forgotten queen.‘Joyous. The perfect walk through history‘ – Sir Tony Robinson, actor, presenter and authorIn 1290, England mourned the death of a queen, Eleanor of Castile, beloved wife of King Edward I, the warrior king. Her body was carried on a 200-mile journey from Lincoln to London, a solemn procession that would become immortalized in stone. To mark the places where it stopped overnight, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve magnificent Eleanor Crosses.More than seven centuries later, bestselling historian Alice Loxton set herself an epic challenge: following in history’s footsteps by walking the entire 200-mile funeral route on the corresponding dates.As Alice journeys in search of England’s forgotten Queen, over ancient paths and modern motorways, history comes alive in surprising ways. Lively and entertaining, Eleanor uncovers the extraordinary life and formidable character of this lesser-known royal, revealing her inspiring legacy and the hidden history of Britain.‘Beautiful, elegiac, honest and compelling . . . a modern-day pilgrimage’ – Kate Mosse, bestselling author of The Map of Bones‘The leading historian of her generation’ – Dan Jones, historian and author of The Templars

The Instant Sunday Times BestsellerBlackwell's Book of the YearShortlisted for Waterstones Book of the YearHistorian and bestselling author of Eleanor, Alice Loxton, presents a scintillating history of Britain, told through portraits of eighteen figures in British history at the age of eighteen.'The star of her generation' – Dan Snow, host of History Hit'Bursting with ideas and images' – Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl'Utterly, utterly brilliant' – Tracy Borman, author of The King's WitchAt eighteen, your life is full of what-ifs and why-nots. You have everything to look forward to – unless you've got the plague . . .What happens if the First World War breaks out while you're at university?How does a young woman, born without arms or legs, make a living in Georgian London?What turns a rugby-obsessed teenager from a Welsh mining town into Richard Burton?In this unconventional and witty history, award-winning writer and broadcaster Alice Loxton delves into Britain's past, exploring the country through eighteen notable figures at that most formative age of eighteen. From a young Elizabeth Tudor facing deadly intrigue at court, to Empress Matilda already changing the fate of nations, Eighteen invites readers to join an eclectic cast of young Britons across the nation and throughout its history.Filled with fascinating stories of royalty, explorers, writers and entertainers, Eighteen asks what lessons we can learn for modern Britain.'Brilliantly original, wonderfully perceptive and full of rich insights . . . Loxton has confirmed her place as one of our most exciting and talented young historians' – James Holland, bestselling author and historian

The Instant Sunday Times BestsellerBlackwell's Book of the YearShortlisted for Waterstones Book of the YearHistorian and bestselling author of Eleanor, Alice Loxton, presents a scintillating history of Britain, told through portraits of eighteen figures in British history at the age of eighteen.'The star of her generation' – Dan Snow, host of History Hit'Utterly, utterly brilliant' – Tracy Borman, author of The King's WitchAt eighteen, your life is full of what-ifs and why-nots. You have everything to look forward to – unless you've got the plague . . .What happens if the First World War breaks out while you’re at university?How does a young woman, born without arms or legs, make a living in Georgian London?What turns a rugby-obsessed teenager from a Welsh mining town into Richard Burton?In this unconventional and witty history, award-winning writer and broadcaster Alice Loxton delves into Britain's past, exploring the country through eighteen notable figures at that most formative age – eighteen. From a young Elizabeth Tudor facing deadly intrigue at court, to Empress Matilda already changing the fate of nations, Eighteen invites readers to join an eclectic cast of young Britons across the nation and throughout its history.Filled with fascinating stories of royalty, explorers, writers and entertainers, Eighteen asks what lessons we can learn for modern Britain.'Brilliantly original, wonderfully perceptive and full of rich insights . . . Loxton has confirmed her place as one of our most exciting and talented young historians' – James Holland, bestselling author and historian'Bursting with ideas and images' – Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl

An extraordinary historical journey through England with Alice Loxton, author of the acclaimed bestseller Eighteen.A Waterstones Best History Book of 2025‘Joyous. The perfect walk through history‘ – Sir Tony Robinson, actor, presenter and author'Whimsical, charming and cosy. Will make you want to take a long walk, look at some churchyards, and drink a lovely cup of tea' – Alice Winn, bestselling author of In MemoriamIn 1290, England mourned the death of a queen, Eleanor of Castile, beloved wife of King Edward I, the warrior king. Her body was carried on a 200-mile journey from Lincoln to London, a solemn procession that would become immortalized in stone. To mark the places where it stopped overnight, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve magnificent Eleanor Crosses.More than seven centuries later, bestselling historian Alice Loxton set herself an epic challenge: following in history’s footsteps by walking the entire 200-mile funeral route on the corresponding dates.As Alice journeys in search of England’s forgotten Queen, over ancient paths and modern motorways, history comes alive in surprising ways. Lively and entertaining, Eleanor uncovers the extraordinary life and formidable character of this lesser-known royal, revealing her inspiring legacy and the hidden history of Britain.‘Beautiful, elegiac, honest and compelling . . . a modern-day pilgrimage walking in the footsteps of one of the great forgotten queens’ – Kate Mosse, bestselling author of The Map of Bones‘Loxton has the novelist’s skill of seeing the world through her characters’ eyes, and the historian’s accuracy of vision’ – Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of Normal Women‘Eleanor is dazzling, alive with wit, elegance and insight. A book that makes history feel urgent, intimate and unforgettable’ – Rob Rinder, bestselling author of The Trial

'An entertaining tour of British history filled with delightful stories, witty anecdotes and an abundance of remarkable paintings' TERRY DEARY'A champion of British heritage' LUKE SHERLOCK'Alice Loxton has a brilliant talent for digging out history's most extraordinary stories and bringing them to life' JACK CHESHER'A pleasurable and quirky voyage through the hidden corners of British history' SIMON JENKINSA LIVELY AND ILLUMINATING HISTORY OF BRITAIN FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ELEANOR AND EIGHTEEN, ALICE LOXTONFrom an image carried by St Augustine when he landed on our shores in 597AD and a glittering portrait of a Tudor queen to Stubbs’ majestic rendering of Whistlejacket and L.S. Lowry’s depictions of daily life in Bolton, each painting in this transformative history illuminates key moments in our island's story. These are tales of foundation, revolution, upheaval and resilience.Along the way, Loxton visits locations that have shaped the lives of these extraordinary works of art: a winding riverbank, a local supermarket, a secret mountain quarry, a bustling hospital. She is joined by a rich cast of characters, including conservators, pub locals and a fearsome dragon, and discovers the stories behind some of Britain's most fascinating myths (who really was St George? Did the people of the Middle Ages think the world was flat? What was the Pineapple Craze? Why do Scots wear tartan?).This is a sweeping, joyful history that will inspire you to explore the wonders of Britain and change the way you look at paintings for ever.More Praise for A History of Britain in 21 Paintings'Warm, curious and full of wit, this is a history of great scope, brought vividly to life and delivered with considerable panache' Andrew Ziminski'Alice Loxton is a boots on the ground, nose on the glass case sort of historian - she takes you immediately and vividly to some of the most interesting sights in Britain' Philippa Gregory'A glittering jewel-box of a book . . . Delightful, engaging, packed with surprising by-ways and endlessly illuminating' Sinclair McKay'Fascinating, superbly researched, beautifully written, this is a majestic book' Kate Williams'A delightful romp through more than one thousand years of British art and history' Elizabeth Goldring'A sumptuous, glittering treasure trove of a book laced with clarity and warmth ... Alice Loxton is a national treasure just like the paintings she uncovers' Emily Hauser

**A brilliant new history of Georgian Britain through the eyes of the artists who immortalised it, by one of the UK's most exciting young historians**'Alice Loxton is the star of her generation ... the next big thing in history' DAN SNOW'Vivid, pacey and endlessly engaging, this brilliant debut brings the late Georgian period dazzlingly to life. Irresistible stuff' TRACY BORMANLondon, 1772: a young artist called Thomas Rowlandson is making his way through the grimy backstreets of the capital, on his way to begin his studies at the Royal Academy Schools. Within a few years, James Gillray and Isaac Cruikshank would join him in Piccadilly, turning satire into an artform, taking on the British establishment, and forever changing the way we view power.Set against a backdrop of royal madness, political intrigue, the birth of modern celebrity, French revolution, American independence and the Napoleonic Wars, UPROAR! follows the satirists as they lampoon those in power, from the Prince Regent to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Their prints and illustrations deconstruct the political and social landscape with surreal and razor-sharp wit, as the three men vie with each other to create the most iconic images of the day.Alice Loxton's writing fizzes with energy on every page, and never fails to convince us that Gillray and his gang profoundly altered British humour, setting the stage for everything from Gilbert and Sullivan to Private Eye and Spitting Image today. This is a book that will cause readers to reappraise everything they think they know about genteel Georgian London, and see it for what it was - a time of UPROAR!