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From Amazon.co.uk
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
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
144 of 148 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
184 of 191 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.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Eva
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Really interesting and a great overview - after all, Schama has had to condense Britain's history into 15 hours. Hence, it does not claim to be a complete account of the country's past... (If this is at all possible - I would say it is not). So viewers should not expect this! Liked how it did include the Irish, the Welsh and the Scots, as well women's history. Not just the history of the male poltical elite. Found some episodes at the beginning a little bit hard to follow because I had zero prior knowledge of the period and the episodes were dealing with substantial chunks of time... But nonetheless it gave me a flavour of the how things were and hopefully next time I watch I will take more of the details in! All in all, I would throughly recommend it, Schama is charming and eloquent!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Well presented and easy to understand, gives children first rate understanding of rolling History and how vital it is to know about the making of Britain.
Published 2 days ago by Anthony A Buckley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Brilliant, ordered this for my friends Christmas and she absolutely loved it. Simon Schama is a very knowledge person who makes history very interesting.
Published 24 days ago by A Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, in fact so brilliant I bought another copy for a friend..
This IS the complete history of Britain and should be required viewing in every Secondary School. Simon Sharma is a brilliant communicator and constantly surprises one with amazing... Read more
Published 27 days ago by Christopher P. Stubbs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting
First time viewing - and a wonderfully enjoyable journey. Wish he had covered the Wars of the Roses better, though
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. S. Lang
1.0 out of 5 stars
Schamma invisible in Brazil
It is impossible to see it in Brazil! Complete disaster
The book is excelent, the tv series is a fraud from the digital point of view
The book is excelent, the tv series is a fraud from the digital point of view
Published 1 month ago by Manoel Motta
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUPERB!
Anyone who is into history cannot be spellbound by this.
Simon Schama is just great and i also found the 'extras' very interesting.
Simon Schama is just great and i also found the 'extras' very interesting.
Published 1 month ago by GAZZA
4.0 out of 5 stars
Perceptive and informative
An interesting and highly informative series presented by one of the greatest British historians of today-Simon Schama. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gary Selikow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simon Schama: A History of Britain - The Complete BBC Series [DVD]
Simon Schama: A History of Britain - The Complete BBC Series [DVD] Life is now complete it is very good
Published 2 months ago by Mr. I. G. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
I like Simon Schama's style of lecture, he keeps to the point and makes it amusing at times;;;;;;;;;;; very good series. I have the bookas well.
Published 2 months ago by David Ainsworth
5.0 out of 5 stars
A History of Britain DVD - Simon Schama
Watched one or two episodes on tv, so to have the complete series is great. Wonderfully produced, filmed, and narrated. Read more
Published 2 months ago by anon
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