Presented in a handsome series edition, with printed laminated covers that look good together on the shelf and fit nicely in the hand, these books are both educational and entertaining—perfect for the student as well as for the former student who can now better appreciate the value of the lessons.

It's okay to admit that you slept, doodled, or passed notes through most of your history classes; now that the subject seems a bit more relevant, this book offers an affable antidote to the gaps in your knowledge. Emma Marriott takes us back through time to learn about the many and varied invasions of Britain; the discoveries and rivalries of the Renaissance; the American, French, and Russian Revolutions; and the world wars and the Cold War.