100 years after the publication of Henrietta Marshall's children's history OUR ISLAND STORY, one of the most popular and inspirational books of its time, Dr David Starkey has launched a campaign to reconnect children with the blood and battles of history that have, for a generation, been put aside in favour of social history and learning skills. Dr Starkey took time off between studio sessions in London, where he is recording a new television programme, to visit a class of 8 and 9 year olds at Barham Primary School, in Kent and enthuse them with his reading from H.E. Marshall's republished book.

"What a child is interested in is the story, the human beings, the characters; and all that's gone…" he told BBC News.

Dr Starkey joins fellow Historians Lady Antonia Fraser, Andrew Roberts and Simon Schama by throwing his support behind this timeless classic. And in his crusade to put the leading characters back at the heart of school History lessons, Dr Starkey has put Our Island Story firmly back on the agenda.

"It's a very interesting story of how the media can actually change things", he told the BBC. "Jamie Oliver changed school meals: Simon Schama and David Starkey are probably changing school history."

100 years after it was first published, Our Island Story, one of the most popular and inspirational books of its time, has become a modern day bestseller. On 22nd September 2005 Galore Park Publishing, in association with Civitas, reissued this classic children's history book over 50 years after it was last in print. The response from the public and the media was terrific and a staggering 20,000 copies were sold within the first week of publication. 40,000 copies have now been sold and a further 30,000 copies are being delivered to wholesalers this week.

"We wanted to tell children what is, after all, one of the greatest stories ever told," said Nick Oulton, Managing Director of Galore Park. "They weren't being told these stories in school. Now they can enjoy them again."

OUR ISLAND STORY recounts the history of Britain from Roman times to the death of Queen Victoria as a roller-coaster adventure story, freely mixing legend with fact, with characters such as Merlin and Robin Hood making appearances alongside Sir Walter Raleigh and Oliver Cromwell. H.E. Marshall tells the story of Britain in bold colours with heroes and heroines, vividly reflected in the colour illustrations of A.S. Forrest. She tells these stories with intense personal engagement and in fantastic narrative form. The result is a gripping story book that has inspired children for almost a century and will continue to do so.

The initiative to republish Our Island Story came from Civitas, the Institute for the Study of Civil Society, and immediately caught the imagination of the British public. As soon as details of the project became known, advance orders flooded in from wholesalers, bookshop chains, schools and a vast number of private individuals, all keen to improve the level of knowledge of history of children in Britain today.

Its reissue is timely - in a backlash against years of politically correct, homogenised, multi-cultural history, there is currently a move to reinforce British values, a quest for a British identity, for the things that give us cause to celebrate our national heritage. H.E. Marshall's marvellous book embodies those patriotic urges.

OUR ISLAND STORY by H. E. Marshall
with original colour illustrations by A.S. Forrest
Published by Galore Park in association with CIVITAS on 22nd September 2005 in hardback, price £19.99

"I was given H.E. Marshall's Our Island Story at Christmas 1936 and I've still got that copy. It was a direct inspiration for me in my career as a historian." Lady Antonia Fraser

"… the reason that parents will go to such lengths to try to track down copies of Our Island Story is because of the sheer quality of the writing. Telling a story from history might be old-fashioned, but it stimulates a child's imagination like nothing else." Andrew Roberts

Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall was born in 1867 in Bo'ness. Surprisingly little is known about her life, including the date of her death. She concealed her gender using the initials H.E. in her writing. Our Island Story is her most widely-read book. It was first published in 1905 and has been out of print for 52 years. Other titles include Our Empire Story, Scotland's Story, and English Literature for Boys and Girls.

For further information ring Nicholas Oulton, Galore Park Publishing Ltd

0870 234 2304 (work)

nick@galorepark.co.uk

Or ring Robert Whelan, Civitas

020 7799 6677 (work)

Click here if your primary school wishes to request a free copy of Our Island Story

Click here for more information about Our Island Story