Guernsey: A History by Kelvin Whelan

 Guernsey - A History provides an expansive view of the history of the island of Guernsey, from prehistoric times to present day. This book explores how the island responded to external threats and opportunities, from the prehistoric separation of the island from mainland Europe and the movement to an agrarian society, to the development of trade through St Peter Port during the Roman period and the early middle ages.

The year 1066 brought a new connection to the English crown, and when King John lost the Duchy of Normandy to France in 1204, Guernsey struck a new path allied to the English Crown, choosing autonomy as the price of loyalty. This loyalty was to be tested numerous times as the Crown sought to bring the island under the closer control bringing into tension the ancient rights and customs granted in 1204. This ebb and flow continued as the political realities changed across the centuries.

The 20th century fundamentally changed the nature of this relationship. The German occupation had profound effect on the Island, the collective suffering imprinting deeply but generating the post-war drive for renewal and reinvention, transforming the island into a modern, prosperous island nation ready the face the challenges of the 21st Century.