Spread out under the vast Norfolk skies, the Broads have helped define the county. In a panoramic sweep of facts, anecdotes and historical research, Pete Goodrum tells their story. From the Roman occupation, when the peat excavations that would form them were first begun, through the dark days of the Middle Ages, to the innovations of the nineteenth century and the emergence of the area as an internationally loved holiday location, this is the complete picture of the Norfolk Broads. Long thought to be a natural phenomenon the Broads are now known to be manmade. And man has made much of them. An inspiration to writers and artists, a passion for conservationists and a recreational wonderland for holidaymakers, the Norfolk Broads are inextricably linked to the history and social development of the county. Covering the development of this beautiful and intriguing area up to the present day, Norfolk Broads: The Biography is a rewarding insight into the history of these magical waterways.