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Amazon.co.uk Review
What do you get when you combine the resources and ethos of the BBC with the literary panache of one of the world's best narrative historians? The answer is Simon Schama's History of Britain television series. In this well-written and thoughtfully crafted survey, Schama, the bestselling author of books on European cultural history such as The Embarrassment of Riches and Citizens, has managed to be both conventional and provocative. He tells the official version of Britain's story--Roman Britain, the Norman Conquest, the struggles of the Henrys and Richards, Elizabeth I, Scottish rebellions and the English Civil Wars, the American Revolution, the growth of the British Empire, Queen Victoria, the industrial age, and Winston Churchill. But while sticking to a script familiar to anyone who sat up and listened during history class, Schama brings it all alive with memorable prose and presence--Simon de Montfort's rebel parliament is described as inaugurating the "union between patriotism and insubordination"; with Henry VIII, Schama says, "you could practically smell the testosterone." Schama is also particularly enlightening on the symbolism of buildings, memorials, language, and ceremonies, and on the complex relations between England and its Celtic and Catholic neighbors. If history must have gloss, then let it be presented like this. --Miles Taylor (Amazon.com)
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Biographies, Box Set, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Bringing Britain's rich history to life, Simon Schama's unique storytelling describes the triumphs and trials of the monarchy, the effects of warring religions, the expansion of the empire and the decline of Britain as a world power. The story begins around 3000 BC and concludes in 2000. This DVD features the complete 15-part epic BBC series, presented on six DVDs in special edition packaging. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...A History of Britain - Complete Series - 6-DVD Box Set
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
120 of 123 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Simon Schama presents here a compellingly personal take on British History, full of colour and drama, so that characters like Edward Longshanks virtually leap into the room. It makes no attempt to include all the kings, queens and battles, and doesn't aim to provide an exhaustive account of British history. I think he succeeds well, though, in finding threads of real significance through the two millennia covered, and brings it all to life with great panache. Various vital themes: the coming together of Norman and Saxon, the economic consequences of the plague and birth of the middle class, the Act of Union - the now crumbling cornerstone of a once global empire -, the wonderful summing up of William of Orange, constitutional monarch, as 'chairman of the board' - it is all vividly presented and illuminates fascinatingly our own age.
171 of 177 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A History of Britain by Simon Schama was a pivotal work in television history. It, almost single-handedly, began the `historical documentary revival' of recent years. The seemingly endless series of popular history programs, particularly on Channel 4, owe a debt to this series. However you feel about those programs though, watching A History of Britain makes it is perfectly clear why this revival has been so popular.
Schama and the BBC planned A History... to be a return to the epic, fairly, high budget documentary series such as `Civilization'. They hoped it would receive a reasonable share of the audience. It became a runaway success popularising British history like no series had before. Applications to read history at university went up dramatically; it became the BBC's highest selling factual series on DVD.
So why was it such a success? It has to be down to Schama. His knowledge and intelligence are obvious. His passion for his subjects leaps of the screen. The series has been criticised for its sidelining, even omission, of many events and periods such as the Hundred Years War and the Norman kings after William the Conqueror. These criticisms, while not unfounded, are fairly silly. If the series had been a list of major historical events it would not have been so successful, in fact it would have been nigh-on unwatchable. To make it entertaining as well as informative it needed to be subjectively edited; and Schama did an excellent job of it.
Schama and the BBC planned A History... to be a return to the epic, fairly, high budget documentary series such as `Civilization'. They hoped it would receive a reasonable share of the audience. It became a runaway success popularising British history like no series had before. Applications to read history at university went up dramatically; it became the BBC's highest selling factual series on DVD.
So why was it such a success? It has to be down to Schama. His knowledge and intelligence are obvious. His passion for his subjects leaps of the screen. The series has been criticised for its sidelining, even omission, of many events and periods such as the Hundred Years War and the Norman kings after William the Conqueror. These criticisms, while not unfounded, are fairly silly. If the series had been a list of major historical events it would not have been so successful, in fact it would have been nigh-on unwatchable. To make it entertaining as well as informative it needed to be subjectively edited; and Schama did an excellent job of it.
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Bored with the normal tedium of endless dates and names that follow on endlessly? Want to know how and why Britain was formed? If so, get this set of DVD's or indeed the books which pre-empted the TV series. It's fantastic. Schama is able to conjour up the most vivid images as he goes from one far corner of the British main land to another. The starting point of the series at Scara Brae are something which had never really been told of in any great detail. He put's meat on to the bare bones of the story of Britain. At one point he mentions a name from everybodies school memory, the venerable Bede. But he goes on to tell how that one persons accounts have led us to what we know about the so-called dark ages. This is a must, but as i said at the begining, try reading the 3 volumes first, they are fantastic.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Awesome
This is an amazing series. Schama's ability to find the right words for the feeling of the moment, the poetry, and the passion, are breathtaking. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Freedom
-
delivery of this product was exemplarly. the series itself sees schama in his prime - delivering an energetic and informed perception of the direction of britain's history. Read more
Published 1 month ago by murden22
History of Britain
I cannot comment on these DVD's as they were bought as a present for my wife
who is in residential care. Read more
who is in residential care. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. G. Robinson
Fantastic
Not allot more to be said if I'm honest, just watch and make your own mind up. Simon schama presents a fantastically detailed history of the British isles.
Published 1 month ago by Mr Iain D Singleton
History, a constant evaluation of the past
History of Britain
Have just watched Simon Schama's Power of Art, all 3 DVDs, following the very enlightening and enjoyable "consumption" of his History of Britain. Read more
Have just watched Simon Schama's Power of Art, all 3 DVDs, following the very enlightening and enjoyable "consumption" of his History of Britain. Read more
Published 2 months ago by H. R. Mathisen
History - not my cup of tea
Needed to study for a test on the history of Britain, and since just re-reading the text book and my notes was quite boring, I got a hold of the Simon Schama dvd's and gave it a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Joannalynn
Vary Good & Interesting History Series
I have read the 3 books by Simon Schama which are based on this DVD TV series (or is it the other way round? Read more
Published 3 months ago by Traffic
A great series!
I had never even heard of this series until my brother in law gave it to me as a gift; I could not have been more happy! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jordan
SCHAMA
Well worth buyingif you are into this sort of thing. Only complaint is that it is a bit light on the wars of the roses, but otherwise very good!
Published 5 months ago by aries1
sunflower
I bought this as a gift for Christmas for my husband. He was thrilledwith it and is enjoying watching it very much I'm sure it will be a DVD he will watch over and over again
Published 5 months ago by Sunflower
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