100 Immigrants Who Made Britain Great

Inspiring Stories of Talented People
From Hans Holbein to Mo Farah, this beautiful, illustrated book celebrates the achievements of 100 great characters who made a new life in Britain.
The Story of Britain's Immigrants

Britain’s story is, in so many ways, an immigrant story. 100 Immigrants Who Made Britain Great gathers one hundred short, vivid biographies that celebrate people born elsewhere who helped shape the United Kingdom’s science, sport, culture, politics, business and everyday life. From the cover promise — “Inspiring Stories of Talented People” — to the final page, this is an uplifting, fact‑rich tour of ingenuity and grit.

Introduced by playwright and commentator Bonnie Greer, the book sets the record straight: migration is not a footnote to British history — it’s part of the fabric. Then, in crisp, page‑turning entries, you’ll meet household names and hidden heroes across four centuries. The Contents span icons such as Mary Seacole, Alec Issigonis, Mo Farah, TS Eliot, Zaha Hadid, Claudia Jones, George Frideric Handel, Malala Yousafzai, Richard Rogers, Anish Kapoor, Raheem Sterling, Valerie Amos and many more.

Each profile foregrounds the essentials—birthplace, dates, and “Known for”—then brings the person’s journey to life in a concise, engaging narrative. You’ll discover the first Black professional footballer Arthur Wharton breaking barriers in the 1880s; Nobel laureates Dennis Gabor and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan transforming how we see and understand the world; entrepreneur Alan Yau changing the way Britain eats; campaigners Doreen Lawrence and Alf Dubs turning private grief into public good; and artists from Alek Wek to Lucian Freud redefining beauty and seeing.

What you’ll find inside

• 100 bite‑size biographies perfect for quick reading, classrooms and book club discussion.
• A panoramic sweep of fields — medicine, engineering, sport, music, literature, activism, entrepreneurship and more.
• Accessible, informative storytelling that inspires pride in a diverse, modern Britain.

Whether you’re a teacher seeking positive role models, a parent curating meaningful reads, or a history lover who enjoys brisk, illuminating life stories, this collection is both a celebration and a corrective — proof that newcomers have long powered Britain’s greatness. Add it to your shelf and dip in whenever you need a reminder of what talent, opportunity and welcome can achieve.

Buy the book and start reading

Contributor: Naomi Kenyon (Illustrated by), Bonnie Greer (Foreword by)

Illustrator: Naomi Kenyon

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.