A History of Britain 1 - Simon Schama

"A History of Britain: At the edge of the world? 3000BC to AD1603" Simon Schama's "A History of Britain 1" is indeed a landmark along the road of historical literature, as it stamps out the first time when the academic textbook world of our nations past became was bundled up and presented for mainstream audiences. Along with an accompanying television series and countless media plugs before and after its release, "A History of Britain" quickly became the most successful history book of the year, and it seems to have asserted itself into that position for a long-long time (although the recently published 2nd volume may offer a ...

A lot of people get put off history for life because of the way it's taught in school. They see it as a very stuffy topic, and don't give it another thought as they go through adult life. Fortunately for me, I had good teachers, who largely approached the subject as a collection of stories, with more twists and more intrigue and betrayals than your average soap opera. Where Simon Shama's book is successful is that, like those good teachers, he concentrates on the facets of history that make it interesting, rather than just reeling off a list of facts and dates. All the important events are covered, but without getting bogged down in the kind of dry ...

Schama, author of books on European cultural history such as The Embarrassment of Riches, Citizens, and Rembrandt's Eyes, tells a conventional, but exciting, story of British history from Roman Britain to Elizabeth I. He discusses the Kings and Queens that had the greatest impact on the history of these islands. But Schama does not consider, in sufficient depth, the impact that philosophers and scientists have had on British culture. In this he reflects the typical British failing of indulging in a cult of personality and shocking events, rather then one of ideas and philosophy. But, at least, he does bring to the fore the long march to freedom that occurred in ...