Just a Number?
'18' is a collection of profiles about historical figures structured around a fantasy dinner party. Starting with medieval monk and historian Bede, the book gallops towards the 20th century via royalty, writers, innovators, artists, engineers, activists and scientists. Some are names we know, others not. Alice Loxton dives into their backgrounds and stories, assessing what her subjects and their lives were probably like at 18, and considers whether the foundations of what they would achieve were already laid by that crucial age.
An Education
In several ways, '18' got on my nerves, but I also learned a lot of interesting things from it and admired its novel approach to history. Who knew that the = sign was Welsh! And the stats about life expectancy in the introduction are certainly food for thought. As a grown up, I found the dinner party element gimmicky and a distraction. In other circumstances, I might have just skipped these pages and just read the profile chapters. I suspect I wasn't the target reader, however, more the target buyer who would give this book to someone of the right sort of age.
They could be Heroes
I think '18' does a great job of making the lives of historical figures relatable to a younger audience. It's obvious that serious thought and effort has gone into making sure a diverse range of people is represented, and I thought the chapters on the least known individuals and those that myth-busted were the most engaging. I particularly enjoyed reading about Sarah Biffin, Elsie Inglis and Rosalind Franklin. I also liked the way that many of the historical heroes included had complicated back stories and experiences, showing that achievement is possible even if you don't have the perfect start in life.
Mixed Bag
Unfortunately, my enjoyment was marred by some pretty glaring writing errors. At first, I ignored them, assuming that they were just turns of phrase that I wasn't familiar with as I'm most definitely not a teenager. But some, such as "vociferous reader', are just plain wrong. You won't be getting much reading done if you keep talking! Unless you're reading aloud perhaps? Anyway, I hope such malapropisms will be picked up and corrected before the paperback, but it does make you feel a bit foolish for paying so much for the hardback if its errors make it feel like a draft.
Overall
I'd have loved this book if I'd read it at 18 and would happily buy it for a history-loving older-teen now. Although the dinner party structure feels more appropriate for a younger audience, some of the content is a too dark for under-18s. This is a real shame as it shortens it's shelf life and means this age group could miss out on these inspirational stories at an influential time. Knowing that people considered 'heroes' achieved and created amazing things despite poverty, difficult family circumstances or other challenges that modern readers face everyday could give them hope. In a world that often seems impossible to fix, it could help a new generation realise that anything is possible.
Now, what next..?
'18: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives' by Alice Loxton was published in 2024 by Macmillan. This post is based on the hardback version.
