A major history of the British Post Office. “This is the first complete history of the Royal Mail up to the present day, based on its comprehensive archives, and including the first detailed account of the past half-century of Britain’s postal history, made possible by privileged access to confidential records. Today’s debate over the future of the Royal Mail is shown to be just the latest chapter in a centuries-old conflict between its roles raising revenue and serving the public. Will its employees remain, like Brian Tuke’s postmasters, servants of the Crown? This book could hardly appear at a more timely moment.”