Britain is the traditional land of dissent, of dissent not only in its religious connotation but of dissent itself. John Strachey This accessible yet authoritative collection of essays chronicles the history of dissent in the British Isles, from Magna Carta to the present day. The contributors - all specialists in their field - cover such milestones as the age of revolution, industrialisation and the foundation of the Labour Party. Tony Benn contributes a powerful, final extended chapter arguing that we are light years away from being a true democracy.