Historian and essayist David Cannadine promises, in his introduction to History in Our Time, a "festive and high-spirited" book--and he delivers. This collection of 30 essays focusing on 19th- and 20th-century England is not only supported by the Oxford-educated Cannadine's authoritative grasp of historical fact, but graced with a sharp sense of humor that at times makes one think of H.L. Mencken crossed with P.G. Wodehouse. Cannadine serves up serious history, yet it's never solemn. "If George III had died younger or gone mad sooner," Cannadine reflects, "his sons would have had much greater opportunities to enjoy and consolidate their debauched and self-indulgent idea of monarchy." The essays deal with three main themes: the monarchy, sketches of notable Britons (including Churchill, Thatcher, MacMillan, and writer John Buchan), and, in a section titled "Hindsight's Insights," examinations of how the English regard such matters as divorce, privacy, class, and morals. These essays were written between 1988 and 1997, and Cannadine is often at his best when examining (and skewering) what he regards as the pompous follies of the Thatcher years. One of the most recent essays in the book, written in the days following the death of Princess Diana, is remarkable for its analysis of her life, the mass reaction to her death, and what it all means for the future of her sons and for England itself. --Robert McNamara