This is the single most important study of the county's history, valued as much for the information it contains as for the author's communicate style. W.G. Hoskins, as one of England's greatest social and economic historians, is famous for pioneering the study of landscape history and for revolutionising the approaches to local history. This essential study contains 16 chapters on aspects of the county's history, an extended gazetteer, updated bibliography, and information on population. A 'must' for anyone interested in England's most popular county.