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Product Description
A new 6 part BBC series: Michael Wood's Story of England. Michael tells the story of one community through the whole of English history. Using documents, landscape, buildings, science and archaeology, and with the help of the villagers themselves, he explores the lives of the ordinary people against the backdrop of national events across more than a thousand years.
Moving between the national and the local narratives, Michael sets the lives of the ordinary people in the context of great events: from the Viking invasions and the Norman Conquest to the Industrial Revolution and the two World Wars. Today’s villagers uncover archaeological evidence to fill in the unknown history of the village before 1066, charting the coming of Romans Anglo-Saxons and Vikings into the village; they help dig into local and national archives, and reconstruct a Victorian village concert; and we go with them on a school trip to World War One battlefields.
Product Description
2DVD .. England
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
123 of 128 people found the following review helpful
By Rowena Hoseason
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
This high quality six-part BBC series is world away from the average modern history `infotainment' programme. Historian Michael Wood, more normally seen in some exotic foreign location, brings enthusiasm and expertise to the subject and makes several thousand years of past events accessible to a wide audience.
This series is involving and informative, but it's not dumbed down or endlessly repetitive. There's no running and shouting in false excitement which plagues some archaeological digs, no tedious/preposterous dramatic reconstructions. Just plenty of info and insight, examined and shared by a congenial, knowledgeable host.
Wood aimed to tell the story of England as seen from the perspective of the common man, not simply the usual list of kings and queens and dates, which can feel sterile and separate from the reality of actual life. He chose Kibworth in Leciestershire because it is so well represented in various written archives: by fluke, a collection of three hamlets happen to be recorded in all manner of old documents giving a unique insight into the life and times of families 500 and more years ago. The paperwork was kept safe in an Oxford College archive, stashed within the library's stone walls where fire couldn't threaten this collection of revealing details about daily life.
Kibworth is also geographically slap-bang in the middle of the country, and was thus affected by almost every major turning point in British history, be it invaders from the south, east or north, or plague and pestilence. In many ways Kibworth could be `any village', and it serves extremely well to represent the typical development of English society over two millennium and more.... Read more ›
This series is involving and informative, but it's not dumbed down or endlessly repetitive. There's no running and shouting in false excitement which plagues some archaeological digs, no tedious/preposterous dramatic reconstructions. Just plenty of info and insight, examined and shared by a congenial, knowledgeable host.
Wood aimed to tell the story of England as seen from the perspective of the common man, not simply the usual list of kings and queens and dates, which can feel sterile and separate from the reality of actual life. He chose Kibworth in Leciestershire because it is so well represented in various written archives: by fluke, a collection of three hamlets happen to be recorded in all manner of old documents giving a unique insight into the life and times of families 500 and more years ago. The paperwork was kept safe in an Oxford College archive, stashed within the library's stone walls where fire couldn't threaten this collection of revealing details about daily life.
Kibworth is also geographically slap-bang in the middle of the country, and was thus affected by almost every major turning point in British history, be it invaders from the south, east or north, or plague and pestilence. In many ways Kibworth could be `any village', and it serves extremely well to represent the typical development of English society over two millennium and more.... Read more ›
71 of 74 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. P. J. R. LEWIS
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
We are all familiar with the superb historical BBC productions put together by Mr Wood , and this i believe is his ninth BBC production , and amazingly all his research concentrates on a single small Leciestershire village.
The research undertaken obviously with a great deal of assistance from his production crew was simply staggering and all the information was factually accurate taken mostly from archival documentation located at various Oxford colleges as well as the Leicestershire archive services.
To be able to compile each episode concentrating on one defining point in England's long history and then bring together totally accurate documentation to make the past spring to life is impressive, but what is most remarkable is that Michael makes each episode compelling viewing for both qualified academic and layperson who has little or no knowledge of local history, that is the work of a true master of his craft.
Combining together the past two thousand years of history of one little village in the heart of England and not for one instance throughout the entire production throw in a piece of evidence or hearsay that cannot be backed up by solid historical fact is testimony to Michael's brilliance as a historian.
Ive enjoyed all his productions for the past thirty and more years but this "Story of England" has left me spellbound with its sheer quality of research and narrative.
It was obvious why he chose Kibworth simply because the historical documentation and architectural background available for this small community is amongst the most complete in the whole of England , with documentation going back to the late 13C and almost every century afterwards.... Read more ›
The research undertaken obviously with a great deal of assistance from his production crew was simply staggering and all the information was factually accurate taken mostly from archival documentation located at various Oxford colleges as well as the Leicestershire archive services.
To be able to compile each episode concentrating on one defining point in England's long history and then bring together totally accurate documentation to make the past spring to life is impressive, but what is most remarkable is that Michael makes each episode compelling viewing for both qualified academic and layperson who has little or no knowledge of local history, that is the work of a true master of his craft.
Combining together the past two thousand years of history of one little village in the heart of England and not for one instance throughout the entire production throw in a piece of evidence or hearsay that cannot be backed up by solid historical fact is testimony to Michael's brilliance as a historian.
Ive enjoyed all his productions for the past thirty and more years but this "Story of England" has left me spellbound with its sheer quality of research and narrative.
It was obvious why he chose Kibworth simply because the historical documentation and architectural background available for this small community is amongst the most complete in the whole of England , with documentation going back to the late 13C and almost every century afterwards.... Read more ›
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A wonderful series, especially for the layperson. I like history but don't really have that much knowledge. Michael Wood manages to instill his usual enthusiasm and give a detailed, gripping account of England basing most of his findings on the records of a small town in the Midlands. I couldn't recommend this highly enough. Good for viewing after viewing after viewing.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Never ever disappointed by Michael Wood....Wondrous watching the life of Kibworth villages over the ages.Full of anecdotes, rivetting to watch the villagers of now discovering their historic past.....Loved the "Time Team" pit digging too!!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Pierre Lebec
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having missed several episodes on TV it was very pleasant to be able to see the whole series. Michael Wood repsents the proramme very well, and reveals a number of things hat were new to me.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found this DVD fascinating, entertaining and educational. History coming alive through the research into the lives of village people bringing together likely explanations of daily activities and social and philosophical reform.
How marvelous to be able to sit back and enjoy intelligent communication through the spoken and written word and historical artifacts.
This series has brought so much pleasure for me that 5 stars is quite appropriate.
How marvelous to be able to sit back and enjoy intelligent communication through the spoken and written word and historical artifacts.
This series has brought so much pleasure for me that 5 stars is quite appropriate.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've just finished watching this wonderful series. It exemplifies all I so admire about the English. There was a tear in my eye at the end. Kudos to Michael Wood and his team for being superb storytellers. And Hurrah! to the people of Kibworth for being the wonderful people you are.
I've been telling frienda about this ingenious series that chronicles a history of England by looking at one village. THat last part always generates an "ahh" from those I tell. I certainly hope that one day I can visit Kibworth, to express my admiration.
I've been telling frienda about this ingenious series that chronicles a history of England by looking at one village. THat last part always generates an "ahh" from those I tell. I certainly hope that one day I can visit Kibworth, to express my admiration.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Plot of Earth
Kibworth, Leicestershire, is an English village that presenter Michael Wood believes encapsulates the whole history of a nation. Read more
Published 1 month ago by FYI
5.0 out of 5 stars
Michael Wood's Story of ENgland
This is a great series with fascinating historical insights. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone interested in history and how communities evolve.
Phil, New Zealand
Phil, New Zealand
Published 2 months ago by Dr. Phil White
5.0 out of 5 stars
MICHAEL WOOD'S STORY OF ENGLAND
Michael Wood comes across like an enthusiastic child but just the sheer depth of his education and knowledge is breathtaking. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Doreen Langmead
5.0 out of 5 stars
Michael Wood's Story of England
Michael Wood always knows his subject and his voice and face are made for travel/history DVDs and films. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Brenda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Leicester lad
This is a great story of England and very well toldand as a ex-Leicester lad I found this to be excellent
Published 5 months ago by Michael King
4.0 out of 5 stars
At first I didnt like it..but it grew on me..and was really liking it...
At first..i didn't like this documentary's format ..as it was different than what i had expected. I did not realise when purchased this DVD set that it would be centered on one... Read more
Published 9 months ago by horoscopy
5.0 out of 5 stars
We haven't actually watched the dvd yet,
Because, in order to maintain our sanity until the FLEA treatments arrive, we are trying to stay out of our house. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. Guppy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb
This is a fascinating and superb series that very colorfully and entertainingly studies the entire history of England, from pre-Roman times to the 1950s, via the village(s) of... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Aanel Victoria
5.0 out of 5 stars
Watching now in the Colonies
Well, I am loving the series on our Public TV station and have a young American Niece in Britain (newly graduated) whom I wanted to help learn about the nation. Read more
Published 11 months ago by count_zero
4.0 out of 5 stars
A NICE PIECE OF HSTORY
If you are of Anglo-saxon or Viking or Norman descent,and interested in your history,this is a 2x disc selection for you! Well presented, professionally produced. Read more
Published 19 months ago by JACQUE
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