In the late 1930s and early 1940s, a wave of state-sponsored"national fitness" programs swept Britain and its formersettler colonies. In Strong, Beautiful and Modern, CharlotteMacdonald shows how governments encouraged citizens to be healthier andmore active, thereby reinforcing the cultural ties of the Empire. At atime when government concern over public health issues such asobesity are once again on the rise, Macdonald explains why thefirst national fitness drive ultimately failed. This book is a livelyinvestigation into how people and governments think about their healthand well-being, and how those historical views have shaped our modernlife.