Empire of Booze

Without Britain, none of the world’s favourite wines would exist. Neither would champagne, port, rum or whisky. Not even beer. How did one small nation come to exert such a lasting influence on the world of booze? This title is a loose history of Britain, cleverly and humorously told through its contributions to alcohol, charting the rise of British power from its small corner of Europe to global pre-eminence. Each chapter features a historical period and a drink – tracing its origins and examining its impact on British culture, literature, science, philosophy and religion.