This magnificent book... Bryant is a fine historian. His understanding of political processes shines through. After this epic the next volume will be eagerly awaited

A bravura ‘biography’ of Parliament… both charming and important… A carefully constructed and lucidly written adventure story about the institution that – like it or not – still shapes our lives

Admirably comprehensive… and written in the kind of lucid, elegant prose now rarely associated with our elected representatives

a fascinating study into the lives and reputations of those who, honourable or not, have sat as parliamentarians... compelling reading

This book tells the story of our greatest national institution. It is well-written, contains much truth, and a great deal of important information. It is a wonderful idea.

Lively... a warts-and-all account of how MPs have first survived and subsequently shaped and initiated policy

This is a wonderful, wry view of the history of parliament "from the inside". Chris Bryant is a great myth-buster. If you ever thought that modern MPs were more corrupt or worse behaved than their predecessors, then read on. You'll find it's not quite so simple.

A remarkably readable and scholarly account of the emergence of the British Parliament over its first five hundred years or so

A wonderfully iconoclastic yet affectionate history ... Bryant tells the story with clarity and verve.

Worthy of its venerable subject

Immersive, engrossing

Written with such passion . . . will fascinate and inform anyone who is interested in Victorian ways of life

If we ever have a female Doctor Who, I shall forward Ruth Goodman's name for consideration, not least because the historian has already done so much time travelling

Wonderful, informative, startling . . . Goodman's unique selling proposition as a historian is that she walks the walk of her time period, even when that walk involves hard labor in a corset and a hoop skirt

Meticulously researched

A ground-breaking book, richly nuanced with titbits of information, insight and understanding

Remarkably perceptive and well-researched . . . Virginia Nicholson has produced another extraordinarily interesting work, sensitive, intelligent and well-written

An inspiring book, lovingly researched, well-written and humane . . . the period is beautifully caught

The popular image is of a world where women wore little frilled pinafores with immaculately coiffed hair and happy smiles as they dusted, swept and baked . . . But Nicholson's book reveals a much darker side of life

Gripping, constantly surprising: a page-turner. We hear at first hand the life stories of women from different walks of life, from factory workers to debs. Each story draws you right in and it's always a wrench to move on

A sparkling and fascinating account

Well-paced narrative...of great relevance today, when such conflicts seem (but only seem) to have disappeared.

Immensely compelling

Meticulously researched

The true strength of this meticulously researched book is the placing of the revelations into the context of a compelling human drama

Engrossing

[An] outstanding treasure of literature

Impeccably researched, and moving, this book breaks new ground