Biggest books to look out for in 2024 - The Guardian

At eighteen, your life is full of of what-ifs and why-nots. You have everything to look forward to - unless you've got the plague . . .

From a young Elizabeth Tudor facing deadly intrigue at court to a teenage Richard Burton, the rugby-obsessed son of a Welsh miner, historian Alice Loxton explores Britain's past through the lives of eighteen figures at this crucial age.

How do you make a living in Georgian London with no arms or legs? What would you do if a world war interrupted your university studies? With plenty of wit and insight, Eighteen invites readers to join an eclectic cast of young Britons across the nation and throughout its history.

Filled with fascinating stories of royalty, explorers, writers and entertainers, Eighteen asks what lessons we can learn for modern Britain.

'A whirlwind of historical energy . . . one of the brightest new stars of popular history' - Dan Jones

'Brilliantly original, wonderfully perceptive and full of rich insights . . . Loxton has confirmed her place as one of our most exciting and talented young historians' - James Holland, bestselling author and historian