In the original dustsheet. Black cloth binding with gilt title on the spine.

F.B.A. provides an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available.

In this digitised age of shared information it is easy to take for granted the power of the printed word. Here Melvyn Bragg presents a vivid reminder of the book as an agent of social, political and personal revolution. In the fascinating book accompanying the ITV series, Melvyn Bragg takes a look at the most important British books in history, and their long-lasting effects which can still be felt throughout the world today. Far from being a study of dry texts, TWELVE BRITISH BOOKS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD presents a rich variety of human endeavour and a great diversity of characters. From scientific breakthroughs to seminal human rights treatises; from dramatic works of staggering emotional depth to what were at the time seemingly innocuous documents – all these works have shaped the history of Britain and beyond. Definitive, always illuminating and sometimes controversial, the hidden story of these twelve books is a journey through the colourful history of our island and its people.

Review: Although it may be too late, an interesting exercise before reading this book is to select your own list of twelve books; if it isn’t too late and you don’t know his list, look away now and get writing. (Bragg’s list is at the bottom of the page; scroll down to find it.) I made my personal list and there was little correlation. Therein lies the interest and the problem many have had with this book. They expected their twelve and were disappointed not to find them; Bragg never claims it to be other than his personal list and does not claim it is THE twelve, a comprehensive list or the list others would choose. However, it is worth reading just to consider another’s view, especially one so well read. If readers don’t like one of his choices, it does not have to be read.

MELVYN BRAGG’S LIST

“Principia Mathematica”

“Married Love”

“Magna Carta”

Rule Book of Association Football”

“On the Origins of Species”

“On the Abolition of Slavery”

A Vindication of the Rights of Women”

“Experimental Research in Electricity”

“Patent Specification for Arkwright’s Spinning Machine”

“The King James Bible”

“An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”

“The First Folio”

Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg, CH, HonFRS, FRSL, FBA (born 6 October 1939) is an English broadcaster, author and parliamentarian. He is the editor and presenter of The South Bank Show (1978–2010, 2012–2023), and made the BBC Radio 4 documentary series In Our Time.

Earlier in his career, Bragg worked for the BBC in various roles including presenter, a connection that resumed in 1988 when he began to host Start the Week on BBC Radio 4. After his ennoblement in 1998, he switched to presenting the new In Our Time, an academic discussion radio programme, which has run to more than one thousand broadcast editions and is also a podcast. He was Chancellor of the University of Leeds from 1999 until 2017.