12 Books that changed the world by Melvyn Bragg

Introduction

Begins Sunday 28th Jan at 5.45pm on ITV1 When people think of things that have changed the world, they tend to think of events – natural disasters, assassinations, wars and scientific breakthroughs. What tends to get overlooked is the powerful, transforming ideas that are communicated in the apparently unassuming pages of books. 12 Books That Changed The World is presented, written and edited by Melvyn Bragg. In this series we look at 12 of the most exciting and powerful books ever written in the English language, all penned by British authors, without which the world would be a very different place. The result is a fascinating celebration of the power of the printed word. The 12 books Every week, Melvyn Bragg reveals the names of three of the most significant books of all time. Episode One Principia Mathematica, Sir Isaac Newton (1687) Married Love, Marie Stopes (1918) The First Rule Book of the Football Association (1863) Episode Two The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin (1859) A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft (1792) Speech to the House of Commons, William Wilberforce (12th May 1789) Episode Three The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith (1776) The King James Bible (1611) Magna Carta (1215) Episode Four Experimental Research in Electricity, Michael Faraday (1855) Patent Specification for Arkwright's Spinning Machine (1769) William Shakespeare's First Folio (1623)