The book presents crucial facts and event'), selected from the countless defining moments in British history and culture: the appearance of prehistoric man in the British Isles; the influence of Celtic culture from a wider, not only insular perspective; the origins of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms; the historical truth and legendary aspects of the Arthurian myth; sea and imperial expansion; the most important factors and players in the fight for freedom; and finally, the development and cultural meaning of the English concept of sport. Although the author discusses well known historical and cultural events, he does this from a non-British perspective and frequently suggests new hypotheses and analyses for some unsolved problems of British cultural history, such as the lack of English protagonists in Old English literature, the Five Borough question and the etymology of fair play as an ethical term and norm.