«This magnificent book... Bryant is a fine historian. His understanding of political processes shines through. After this epic the next volume will be eagerly awaited»

Leo McKinstry, Express

«A bravura ‘biography’ of Parliament… both charming and important… A carefully constructed and lucidly written adventure story about the institution that – like it or not – still shapes our lives»

Roy Hattersley, Telegraph

«Admirably comprehensive… and written in the kind of lucid, elegant prose now rarely associated with our elected representatives»

New Statesman

«a fascinating study into the lives and reputations of those who, honourable or not, have sat as parliamentarians... compelling reading»

Chris Skidmore, Times Literary Supplement

«This book tells the story of our greatest national institution. It is well-written, contains much truth, and a great deal of important information. It is a wonderful idea.»

Peter Oborne

«Lively... a warts-and-all account of how MPs have first survived and subsequently shaped and initiated policy»

The Lady

«This is a wonderful, wry view of the history of parliament "from the inside". Chris Bryant is a great myth-buster. If you ever thought that modern MPs were more corrupt or worse behaved than their predecessors, then read on. You'll find it's not quite so simple.»

Mary Beard

«A remarkably readable and scholarly account of the emergence of the British Parliament over its first five hundred years or so»

Ken Clarke

«A wonderfully iconoclastic yet affectionate history ... Bryant tells the story with clarity and verve.»

Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, Oxford University

«Worthy of its venerable subject»

Independent on Sunday