Britain''s big strength is that it is an island nation. However, we often forget that it boasts hundreds of smaller islands off its shores, each with a distinct character of its own. This book concentrates on the islands of England and Wales showing a mixture of contemporary photographs and archive material to capture the unique atmosphere of each island.Highlights include:Steep Holm - wonderfully preserved World War 2 timewarp in the Bristol Channel.Flat Holm - Welsh island with cholera hospital and amazing fortifications.Lundy - pirate''s haven that issues its own stampsScillies - Britain''s own Hawaii. Five/six inhabited islands with their own stories to tell. St Michael''s Mount - tidal survivor of the mythical lost land of Lyonesse, with a working railway.Looe Island - subject of the book We Bought An Island.Burgh island - tidal with the world''s only sea tractor and fantastic art deco hotel with Agatha Christie connectionsBrownsea Island - inside Poole Harbour, famous for red squirrels and the boy scout movement.Hayling Island - Hayling Billy train, seaside resortGoodwin Sands - sunken island in the Channel, Britain''s biggest graveyard for boatsEel Pie Island in Thames - famous sixties hangoutFoulness Island - secret MoD base, and other Essex marshes islandsMersea Island - sailing haven and holiday resortSealand - military platform off Essex, claims to be a separate countryRead''s Island - Lincolnshire HumberSpurn Head - not an island, but has been at times, and may be so again Farne Islands - famous for Grace Darling connectionsLindisfarne - Holy IslandHilbre Islands - fascinating inhabited set of islands off the west coast of The WirralAnglesey/Holy Island - last stand of the DruidsBardsey Island - site of medieval monasteryRamsey Island - off PembrokeshireBarry Island and Sully Island - famous steam graveyardCharacterful, quirky with distinct and peculiar charms, these and many other British islands are covered in affectionate detail, accompanied by some breathtaking photography.