The Edwardians

In the early 20th century, the motor car was not only new but was looked upon somewhat askance by almost everyone as something that was unreliable and had little future. Frederick Royce from Birmingham had a different view. His company manufactured electric dynamos but his passion became the gasoline powered motor car. Throughout 1903–1904, he designed, built and tested his first 2-cylinder car. Its quality in terms of reliability and smooth running was unknown at the time. Meanwhile, Charles Rolls resides in London and shares Royce's passion for the automobile. The son of a Baron, Rolls is an adventurer who liked to test the limits of cars and later airplanes. An avid racer and balloonist, he'd had little difficulty selling Royce's vehicles once the two finally met in 1904 and together formed Rolls-Royce Ltd in 1906. Their emphasis on quality automobiles remains their hallmark today.

Over several decades, Horatio Bottomley was a figure simply larger than life. Frequently sued for fraud or slander, he always defended himself in court and usually won. He was elected as a Member of Parliament and published the John Bull magazine from 1906, which he used to feed the need for the everyman to have someone tear down and attack society's institutions. Bombastic, arrogant and opinionated are only a few views of him as are eloquent, influential and revered.

Edith Bland was a very successful author and poet who wrote under the name 'E. Nesbit'. Many of her books were for children and several, such as The Railway Children, were turned into film. Edith married Hubert Bland and theirs was a different relationship as it included another woman, Alice Hoatson, who lived with them.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, has his own mystery to solve when he answers a call from George Edalji, who claims to have been falsely convicted of mutilating animals and imprisoned. Edalji had been accused in a series of anonymous letters and Conan Doyle finds that the police seem to have reinterpreted evidence to fit the accused's movement. His spirited defense of Edalji in a newspaper article leads to friction with the powers that be, particularly in the police.

Robert Baden-Powell spent his life in the military and rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. A national hero for the defense of Mafeking in the Boer War and led the inhabitants through a seven month siege, holding on until relief arrived, Baden-Powell returns to learn that his book has become a bestseller. Following retirement, his last position was that of Inspector General, he concentrates on the group for which he is now best remembered, the Boy Scouts.

Tales of the Edwardian music hall and its entertainers

Daisy, mistress of Edward VII and a convert to Socialism looks back at her life as she dictates her memoirs to Frank Harris.

The paradox of a politician who was once a force for social change, a negotiator and untiring philanderer.