"Nineteenth-century Britons experienced an astonishing and unprecedented series of changes. Cities swelled to previously unimaginable sizes, there were great leaps forward in science and technology that, when coupled with a growing religious skepticism, rendered the intellectual landscape increasingly unrecognizable. Most of the countries in the world that experienced these changes were racked by political and social unrest. However, Britain maintained a stable polity at home and, as a result, quickly found ascendancy on the world stage. In Victorious Century, leading historian David Cannadine weaves a bold, fascinating new narrative of nineteenth-century Britain. He shows us a country that saw itself at the summit of the world, one that had become the most expansive empire in history, the leader of the new global economy and the owner of the largest navy ever built. And yet it was also a society permeated with doubt, fear and introspection; one that recognized the tenuousness of its position as a great power and moral force. Incorporating all of the latest scholarship, Cannadine recounts the relish, humor and staginess of the age, alongside the dilemmas faced by Britain's citizens--problems we remain familiar with today. The result is an authoritative and captivating history that will be essential reading for anyone interested in how the nineteenth century shaped the world in which We now live, as well as those interested in the challenges and constraints faced by any country in a position of global leadership."--Dust jacket.