Mike Harpley, Publishing Director in Pan Non-fiction, has acquired World Rights to historian Alice Loxton’s Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives from Caroline Hardman at Hardman & Swainson in a preempt. Pan Macmillan will publish the book in its Macmillan imprint in Hardback, eBook and Audio in August 2024.

In this unconventional and witty book, social media historian, acclaimed author and broadcaster, Alice Loxton, delves into Britain’s past, exploring the country though eighteen notable figures at the formative age of eighteen. From a young Empress Matilda, already shaping the fate of nations, to Richard Burton, the rugby-obsessed teenager who grew up in a Welsh mining town, each journey unpicks a different era of Britain. Irreverent and full of fascinating tidbits (Did you know Chaucer began his career as a scantily clad pageboy?), Loxton investigates the early life of some of our most influential icons. Building a rich mosaic of the country’s past, Loxton asks what lessons we can take for modern Britain and how it treats its young – and why the answers might not be what you think.

Mike Harpley said, ‘In a short time, Alice has become one of the most prominent young historians in the world. Her unique brand of infectious enthusiasm and exhaustive knowledge have endeared her to millions of followers online. This book builds on those strengths: it is a great deal of fun but also reveals a lot about Britain through the ages. I can’t wait to publish it.’

Alice Loxton said, ‘Writing Eighteen has been an absolute joy! What young people have achieved and endured over the years is quite astonishing – fighting off polar bears, surviving pirate attacks, commanding nations, living through plagues, and changing the course of scientific understanding. This book is not only a portrait of Britain, but also asks a wider question: what does it mean to be 18? And what does this mean for 18-year-olds today? By looking at over a thousand years of teenage history, I hope readers will find the answer uplifting, inspiring and lots of fun.’

Alice Loxton is one of Britain’s most exciting young historians, who has pioneered bringing history to new audiences. She has a total following of over 2 million across Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. She is an experienced writer and broadcaster, regularly presenting documentaries and appearing on television across History Hit, Channel 4 and the BBC. She is the author of the acclaimed book UPROAR: Scandal, Satire and Printmakers in Georgian London, nominated for Blackwell’s Book of the Year. She has worked with many charities and organizations including The National Trust, The Royal Collection Trust, Manchester Museum, and The National Portrait Gallery. Historian Dan Snow has called her ‘The star of her generation… the next big thing in history’.