A Short History of Cambridge

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The splendour of Cambridge – to which more than eight million visitors are attracted every year – and its famous university have ensured that the town has long enjoyed international renown. Digging deep into its emergence and evolution, A Short History of Cambridge sheds light on the origins of academia in the area and the fascinating history of one of England’s most famous towns.

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Richard Tames’ digestible and comprehensive history traces Cambridge through the Reformation, the Civil War, the age of Empire, the Great Wars and beyond. Exploring the world-renowned colleges and research facilities of the University, its students and scholars, and their interactions with the townsfolk over the generations, Tames tracks the town’s vast cultural output, from art and literature to theatre and comedy.

This joyful history will delight, in equal measure, readers familiar with the cobbles of Cambridge and those who have seen no further than the stained-glass windows of King’s Chapel.

Richard Tames read History at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and is also the author of A Traveller’s History of Oxford and A Traveller’s History of London.