The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is a collection of 50, 000 specially written biographies of men and women who have shaped all aspects of the British past, from the earliest times to the end of the year 2000, from the ancient (explorer Pytheas of the 4th Century BC) to the modern (Princess Diana). For this new edition, all 36, 000 lives from the first edition have been completely rewritten or revised-with over 13, 500 new biographies added representing all historical periods and including 3, 000 new entries on women.