Family in Blaenafon, south Wales, photo by Walter Waygood, Welsh photographer.

I’m in Lewes, East Sussex, to talk about ‘These Isles: A People’s History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales’ at the Speakers Festival tomorrow morning.

THESE ISLES: Brian Bóruma or Boru (c.941-1014) was hailed by Irish nationalists in the 19th century as a national hero, similar to the English cult of Alfred the Great. 1/5

‘The book offers an exhilarating bird’s eye view of these four nations, shifting our attention away from London, from kings and parliaments, and moving us further west and north.’ - review of THESE ISLES in the Daily Mail.

Across Ballyglass landscape II, County Mayo, 2016, painting by Hannah Mooney, Irish artist.

Newcastle upon Tyne, 1950, photo by Bert Hardy.

Boys playing on a hill above Oldham, 1982, photo by Don McPhee.

Manchester, 1970, photo by Serbian photographer Dragan Novakovic.

Jack's Chippy, painting by John Wood, Barnsley artist (b.1956).

Happy birthday to Leeds-born Alan Bennett, 92 today.

The @news.sky.com team have released its House of Commons projection based on the local election results. A hung parliament, with Reform largest party. news.sky.com/story/politi...

I’ll be at Lewes Speakers Festival in Sussex this Sunday 9.50am, talking about ‘These Isles’. www.ticketsource.com/lewesspeaker...

Highland cow in Kingswells, Aberdeen, photo by Jeanette Taylor (BBC Scotland).

Just finished my copy after a much delayed start another excellent read I have the complete trilogy

‘These Isles’ on display at Leeds Waterstones.

The WW2 Welsh-French spy killed in mystery crash days after the war ended. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The End of the Village, painting by Peter Morgan, Welsh artist.

'Condenses thousands of years into an accessible survey … Groom's combination of pace and scope has the advantage of letting us see a massive swath of history in time lapse.' Review of THESE ISLES in the @financialtimes.com. www.ft.com/content/a9c3...

On the pier, Wirral, 1968, photo by Linda McCartney.

Salford, 1971, photo by Shirley Baker.

Millions around the world celebrated Victory in Europe 'VE Day' on this day 1945, marking news of Nazi Germany’s surrender after nearly six years of war. Pic: VE Day, by L.S. Lowry (Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum).

Change of venue: now at The Loom, Parliament Square, next to The Spindles shopping centre. All welcome.

The Pickaroon, Dublin, 1966, photo by Fergus Bourke, Irish documentary photographer. A girl is picking up coal spilled from a lorry.

I'll be talking about 'These Isles' at a fantastic non-fiction event at @serenitybookshop.bsky.social on Friday 22nd May 6.30pm, with authors @drjamesbailey.bsky.social, @thelrm.bsky.social and @jamie-woodward.bsky.social. Book here: www.ticketsource.com/serenity-boo...

West End Walk, Glasgow, painting by Blythe Scott, Scottish artist.

Reader comments on THESE ISLES: 'Another superbly written and all too readable book.' 'What a great informative read, so much research must have been involved!' 'It’s a great, eclectic, overview.'

THESE ISLES: Queen Elizabeth II of the UK died in September 2022, having ruled for 70 years and 214 days, the longest reign of any British monarch, the second-longest in any sovereign state after France’s Louis XIV and the longest of any reigning queen in history. 1/7

Bez (Mark Berry), maraca player and dancer with Salford rock band Happy Mondays, 1990, photo by Kevin Cummins.

Last man out, final shift at Woodhorn Colliery, Ashington, Northumberland, 1981, photo by Mik Critchlow (1955-2023).

Street Corner, Jones Street, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, south Wales, July 1985, photo by Francesca Odell (Ffotogallery Wales).

Looking forward to my event at Huddersfield Literature Festival @huddlitfest.bsky.social talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales', Fri 15th May, 2pm-3pm, Heritage Quay. Book here: www.huddlitfest.org.uk/event/these-...

Stolen Moment on Grafton Street, Dublin, painting by Chris McMorrow, Irish artist.

A fitting footprint on the history of our Isles. Review of 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' by David Robinson last month in the Yorkshire Post magazine.

THESE ISLES: Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950), Scottish music hall singer and comedian, became hugely popular with audiences across north America, Australasia and South Africa, reputedly making him the world’s highest-paid performer and the first Briton to sell 1m records. 1/7

Staithes, Yorkshire, painting by Clare Caulfield.

Manchester rain, photo by Shauna Harrison.

The Pennines, Harden Reservoir, painting by Huddersfield-based artist Jacky Rawlins.

'Long overdue' - Simon Jenkins. 'Fascinating … an eloquent, well-researched narrative' - Philip Stephens.

These Isles reviewed in the Irish Times. www.waterstones.com/book/these-i... www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

THESE ISLES: Betsi Cadwaladr (1789-1860), was a Welsh nurse who served in the Crimean war at age 65, where she clashed frequently with Florence Nightingale and fought bureaucracy to give soldiers the treatment she believed they needed. She later died in poverty. 1/7

'The adjacent islands are in flux again as they have been for millenniums. The picture remains unstable.' - review of THESE ISLES in the Irish Times.

Willie Thorpe, Denby Grange, painting by Eric H. Hill, 1921-2021 (National Coal Mining Museum for England).

Salford street fun, 1951, photo by John Chillingworth, Picture Post photographer.

Happy 83rd birthday to Michael Palin, Sheffield lad, the only Yorkshireman to have performed in the 'Four Yorkshiremen' sketch (Monty Python, but first performed by Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman in the 1967 TV series 'At Last the 1948 Show').

Summer in St Ann's Square, Manchester, 1983, photo by Anthony O'Neill (via Manchester Evening News).

Sylvia Pankhurst was born on this day 1882.

Hull-born Amy Johnson set off on her pioneering flight on this day 1930, becoming the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. She went on to break many long-distance records.

Delighted to be appearing at the inaugural Mercer Hall Book Festival, near Blackburn on Sunday 17th May, 12.30pm, talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.' Book here: www.hyndburnleisure.co.uk/event/mercer...

Dublin exhibition examines what life has been like for Irish people who emigrated to England in the past 200 years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Old Mr and Mrs Jones and their family, Romany gypsies in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, early 1970s, photo by Robert Haines.