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"All ten authors embody the very qualities which Kenneth Morgan hopes his quite exceptional history will instil in its readers: clarity, enthusiasm and even affection."--Times Educational Supplement
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
The Oxford History of Britain tells the story of Britain and its people over two thousand years, from the coming of the Roman legions to the present day. Encompassing political, social, economic, and cultural developments throughout the British Isles, the dramatic narrative is taken up in turn by ten leading historians who offer the fruits of the best modern scholarship to the general reader in an authoritative form. A vivid, sometimes surprising picture emerges of a continuous turmoil of change in every period, and the wider social context of political and economic tension is made clear. But consensus, no less than conflict, is a part of the story: in focusing on elements of continuity down the centuries, the authors bring out that special awareness of identity which has been such a distinctive feature of British society. By relating both these factors in the British experience, and by exploring the many ways in which Britain has shaped and been shaped by contact with Europe and the wider world, this landmark work brings the reader face to face with the past, and the foundations of modern British society. The new edition brings the story into the twenty-first century, covering the changes to British society and culture during the Blair years and the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There have been a number of reviews complaining about this book because they wanted it to be something else, and perhaps the title is misleading. This is not the story of British history. Rather it is a guide to the various periods of British history. And the understanding of those periods you can gain from this book will give you the ability to hear the bear facts and make sense of them.
Having a series of experts writing grippingly on their specialism is not a flaw in the slightest. (And Kenneth O. Morgan is a great historian, as is John Guy.) When Morgan talks of the social trends of the twentieth century he does not give all the details of the rise of the labour movement of course - only somebody who already knew about them would be able to take it all in, and it would be a much longer book. What he does is provide insight (very eloquently) to the area, allowing further reading, or even reference in a conversation, to make sense to the reader.
J.M. Roberts is a fine writer, he makes history very accessible, but does not, himself, go into huge details in books like 'The History of the World' (where he mentions Elizabeth I only once and in passing).
This book is not a chronology of British history, nor is it an encyclopedia - but it is a great guide to understanding the history of Britain.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I glanced at this book and picked it up cheaply at a supermarket, thinking that it might fill a gap in our family resources, so my initial, not very great, expectations were of a soft narrative history.
Instead I found a fascinating set of essays written by specialists with self evidently deep knowledge of their respective periods. One interesting common thread to the essays is that history is presented as a set of interconnected parallel narratives; broadly these are political, social and economic, however each essay gives these areas a more specific theme for appropriate to the period. The effect of reading each essay is to leave with the sense of having been introduced to an encompassing overview of the period.
In such a book I would have welcomed footnotes to provide sources for the evidence cited, however there are copious suggestions for further reading.
Instead I found a fascinating set of essays written by specialists with self evidently deep knowledge of their respective periods. One interesting common thread to the essays is that history is presented as a set of interconnected parallel narratives; broadly these are political, social and economic, however each essay gives these areas a more specific theme for appropriate to the period. The effect of reading each essay is to leave with the sense of having been introduced to an encompassing overview of the period.
In such a book I would have welcomed footnotes to provide sources for the evidence cited, however there are copious suggestions for further reading.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book provides a summary view of British history from Roman times to the Gulf war. This is more a book of essays by noted history academics than an out and out book of facts. The book is good if you want a less in-depth view of British history, but I did find that it lacked a certain detail of the circumstances behind the history. For example, the book often alludes that Kings of England had been murdered, but gave no detail of the circumstances as to how this may have come about, or the evidence that allowed them to draw this conclusion. In this respect, disappointing and for this reason, only an average rating.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent book to Know Britian for last 2000 years
Excellent book , as its tells the history of social changes , economic changes and about the Rulers . Not just about the great kings and queens and their events and war. Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2003 by "wasimhaque"
What about the History !!
I bought this book with the intention of fulfilling a long time intention to learn something about the history of Great Britain, a subject I recall very little of from school. Read more
Published on 1 July 2002 by Mr Timothy P McArdle
Mismash of uneven writing
I'm a half-educated American, with the vaguest notions of British history. I bought this book hoping to be able to understand the story of the British Isles, in a more or less... Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2001
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