Join us for a free festive book signing with author and Historian Alice Loxton. A personally dedicated book makes the perfect unique gift.

Author, Historian and Social Media sensation, Alice Loxton will be joining us to sign copies of her latest book 'A History of Britain in 21 Paintings'. We will also have her previous books available for sale and signing. This free signing will take place on the 2nd floor of the bookshop.

A History of Britain in 21 Paintings

In this vibrant and insightful book, Alice Loxton travels across Britain in search of twenty-one extraordinary paintings. From the wall art of St Cadoc’s Church near Cardiff and the exquisite detail of daily life portrayed by L.S. Lowry to landmark works including ‘The Rainbow Portrait’ of Elizabeth I and Millais’ ‘Ophelia’, Loxton creates a fresh, transformative history of Britain.

Considering each piece from the viewer’s perspective, she explores how it feels standing before them, what they are trying to tell and what their real-life inspiration reveals about the period when they were created. Along the way, Loxton explores the lives of everyday people, unveils the historical, social and cultural shifts these paintings reflected and inspired, and challenges some of Britain’s most famous myths (who really was St George? Did the people of the Middle Ages think the world was flat? Why do Scots wear tartan? Why do us Brits love going to the pub?).

This sweeping book reminds us that there are incredible stories to be discovered all across Britain, if only we take the time to look.

Alice Loxton

Alice Loxton is a 30-year-old historian, presenter and Sunday Times bestselling author with over three million followers on social media. She has written four non-fiction history books.

Her debut, UPROAR!, was released in 2023. Her second book, Eighteen, was published in August 2024 by Pan Macmillan. Alice’s third book, Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England’s Lost Queen (Pan Macmillan), was released in November 2025, and launched at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey. In June 2026, Eleanor won a Society of Authors’ Somerset Maugham Award.

Her latest book is 'A History of Britain in 21 Paintings'

Description supplied by the event organiser.