Taking Liberties : The Struggle for Britain's Freedoms and Rights

For centuries Britain has laid claim to the notion of liberty, yet the rights and freedoms we enjoy throughout the United Kingdom today were in fact hard fought for and won.

This book uncovers those struggles, their winners, losers and stalemates, which have stretched over 900 years, and continue still.

Whilst there were battles between nations, civil war and the execution of a monarch, at its heart this is a personal story of individuals who made great sacrifices for what they believed was right.

Some individuals are justly celebrated, such as Wat Tyler, William Wilberforce and Emmeline Pankhurst, but many are lesser known though their impact was no less important, including John Lilburne, John Wilkes, Caroline Norton and Fenner Brockway.

Published in association with a major exhibition at the British Library, 31 October 2008-1 March 2009.