From the world's largest tripe factory to the Battle of Wigan Lane; from the Peterloo massacre to the first British canal - Lancashire can claim it all.

It was one of the poorest parts of Britain due to its difficult terrain, poor soil, estuaries and bogs, but it went on to become one of the wealthiest through coal, cotton and slavery. Lancashire had:

the first town to be lit by gas
the first council houses
the first motorway.

Its people included:

the last hangman
the most charismatic modern barrister, George Carmen
urbane broadcaster Alistair Cooke
great actors including Thora Hird, Leonard Rossiter and Ian McKellern.

It has suffered some of the greatest tragedies: the massacre of the Lancashire Pals in 30 minutes of the First World War; countless pit disasters; the pounding of the Blitz.

But it replied by producing some of the greatest comedians: from George Formby to Ken Dodd to Peter Kay. Not to mention the many great cricketers, rugby players and footballers.

A lively and informative book.