Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Magnificent canter through two thousand years of Britain April 5, 2008
This magnificent book covers British history from the Roman invasion up to the death of Queen Victoria. As the partner to a BBC series, the style is more conversational than lecturing, and certainly held me captured throughout the centuries of brutal wheeling and dealing that describes British leaders and history.
If I have one criticism, it is the excessive quoting from Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples and quotations from letters throughout. Perhaps as a BBC series, this added to the reconstruction of history, but in a book this appears to pad the writer's story with too many words from the mouths of others.
This criticism aside, I was completely held by the book to complete my way through a a description of the historical and political background to the British state. With reasoning of the British approach to church, state, empire and religion placed beside the mundane roots of words and phrases, this book maintains depth without becoming too high-brow and speeds at a relentless pace through the twists of fate, power and brokerage that brought the British state to its twentieth century position.
Having been bored by history at school, I found this a refreshing way to learn about subjects I had ignored for may years.
 Very informative but dry and with mixed writing style July 13, 2001
11 out of 17 found this review helpful
My knowledge of British history is (was) scant, hence the decision to read this book. I was bowled over by the amount of information but have to confess that the style of writing left me less impressed.There are constant passages written by Churchill and others that are very different in writing style, which I found to be a little irritating despite their obvious historic value. A few diagrams of family trees to illustrate relationships here and there would not have gone amiss. Finally, the print size left my eyes aching on more than one occasion. Having said all that, a VERY informative book. Thank you Mr Lee.
A wonderful, insightful and FUN! way to brush up on history December 13, 2000
18 out of 21 found this review helpful
No more snoozing in history classes!! This audio CD set walks you by the hand through British history and gives you so much more than the dry facts. The readings from diarys of the time and also from Churchill's 'History of Britain' bring everything to life - you actually WANT to know what happens next! The reading by Anna Massey is just right - informative but alive. This is a definite must for everyone who says 'Hmmm, Alfred - he was the one who burnt the cakes, wasn't he?'
Simply the best book on British history I've ever read September 24, 1999
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
The one thing we can never loose in Great Britain is our history. This book covers this enourmous subject in an informative and easy to read fashion. I have always been interested in our history, but the books I've tried to read have always been far to heavyweight and verbose. This book brings the story of our Islands to life. It also covers the various interactions with other countries (for example a quite detailed account of the American war of independance and some of their civil war), but does not stray from the main theme too far. Sure there are many omissions (for example there is no mention of the invention of the marine chronometer which enabled Britain the essentially rule the waves during the 18th Century) but clearly the book cannot afford to get bogged down if the entire story from 55BC to 1901 is to flow from page to page. I Listened to the radio series on which this book is based and it is an excellent companion. I think the coverage is a fair reflection "warts 'n' all" on the activities of the British, and therefore of interest to non-British readers who may shy away from a potential "rule britannia" union jack waving/back slapping tome. That said, I was pleased to see that some subjects were covered carefully and sensibly (such as Britain's relationships with Ireland and India) and perhaps the flack commonly aimed at the British (or perhaps more acurately at the English) for disasterous policies and the causing of misery to other nations should be considered more in context of the time and place, rather than with a modern critical eye.
A wonderful set of tapes August 1, 1999
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was woefully ignorant about english history (having chosen to do geography at A level) I find the tapes a real treasure - absorbing, fascinating and relaxing - now I want to know more.
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