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This Sceptred Isle : 55BC-1901
 
 
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This Sceptred Isle : 55BC-1901 (Paperback)

by Christopher Lee (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £14.99
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Frequently Bought Together

This Sceptred Isle : 55BC-1901 + This Sceptred Isle: The First British Empire 1702-1760 v.6: The First British Empire 1702-1760 Vol 6 (BBC Radio Collection) + This Sceptred Isle: Elizabeth I to Cromwell 1547-1660 v.4: Elizabeth I to Cromwell 1547-1660 Vol 4 (BBC Radio Collection)
Price For All Three: £27.59

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Product details

  • Paperback: 672 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (3 Dec 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140261338
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140261332
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 4.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 104,806 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Paul Donovan, Sunday Times.
'Wonderful…This Sceptred Isle has provided one of the greatest treats for listeners in recent years.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Based on the award-winning Radio 4 programmes THIS SCEPTRED ISLE tells the fascinating story of British history from Caesar's invasion in 55BC to Queen Victoria's death in 1901. Using extracts from Winston Churchill's A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES plus accounts from contemporary chronicles and diaries, Lee's book focuses on the pivotal events and key characters that have shaped British history. Written in an accessible yet authoritative style. 'Has there ever been a more user-friendly means to the history of Britain' - The Spectator

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars British History for the common man !, 22 Jun 1999
By A Customer
If you are the kind of person for whom the word history evokes memories of dusty old school rooms and dull-as-ditchwater lessons taught by equally dull and dusty old men, then "This Sceptred Isle" is just the antidote you need. Based on Churchill's Nobel prizewinning "History of the English-speaking People" and covering the period from the first Roman visit to these shores up until the death of Victoria, the longest reigning monarch, this book is the best introduction to British history imaginable. The style is light and conversational without being superficial and the liberal use of passages from the great man himself as well as contemporary sources lend the book added interest and authority. A slight criticism is that the geneological trees in the back of the book could have been a bit more extensive and a useful addition would have been a set of time lines or a year-by year summary such as that contained in "The Oxford History of Britain", however, these are minor quibbles. "This Sceptred Isle" is not the definitive text but is a superb primer that gives the reader a clear and detailed overview so that they can decide which period they can focus on next. The layout stresses the gradual nature and continuity of historical developments mixing politics with the social history, science and philosophies of the age. All the famous historical figures are here along with some you may not have heard of but who nevertheless made essential contributions to the development of the nation. Who first proposed the idea of cabinet government ? And in whose reign ? Where do we get the office of the Exchequer from and which monarch started it ? When did the sinking of the White Ship occur and why was it such a disaster for Henry I ? Why was Thomas Beckett murdered and was the king to blame ? What would Henry VIII have done for a living if his older brother Arthur hadn't predeceased him ? Learn about the reasons for the start of the Civil War and then surprise yourself but realising that there was not one Civil War but two. Find out the origin of such expressions as "to turn a blind eye" and "read the riot act". Better than that, indulge yourself and get the 10-volume BBC cassette collection of the original radio series - exquisitely narrated by Anna Massey and also available from Amazon - and use the two together. If you don't know your Williams from your Edwards, or think that the Glorious Revolution was a communist plot, then you need "This Sceptred Isle". Matthew Salter
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20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, insightful and FUN! way to brush up on history, 13 Dec 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: This Sceptred Isle: Volumes 1-10 (BBC Radio Collection) (Library Binding)
No more snoozing in history classes!! This audio CD set walks you by the hand through British history and gives you so much more than the dry facts. The readings from diarys of the time and also from Churchill's 'History of Britain' bring everything to life - you actually WANT to know what happens next! The reading by Anna Massey is just right - informative but alive.

This is a definite must for everyone who says 'Hmmm, Alfred - he was the one who burnt the cakes, wasn't he?'

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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best book on British history I've ever read, 24 Sep 1999
The one thing we can never loose in Great Britain is our history. This book covers this enourmous subject in an informative and easy to read fashion. I have always been interested in our history, but the books I've tried to read have always been far to heavyweight and verbose. This book brings the story of our Islands to life. It also covers the various interactions with other countries (for example a quite detailed account of the American war of independance and some of their civil war), but does not stray from the main theme too far. Sure there are many omissions (for example there is no mention of the invention of the marine chronometer which enabled Britain the essentially rule the waves during the 18th Century) but clearly the book cannot afford to get bogged down if the entire story from 55BC to 1901 is to flow from page to page. I Listened to the radio series on which this book is based and it is an excellent companion. I think the coverage is a fair reflection "warts 'n' all" on the activities of the British, and therefore of interest to non-British readers who may shy away from a potential "rule britannia" union jack waving/back slapping tome. That said, I was pleased to see that some subjects were covered carefully and sensibly (such as Britain's relationships with Ireland and India) and perhaps the flack commonly aimed at the British (or perhaps more acurately at the English) for disasterous policies and the causing of misery to other nations should be considered more in context of the time and place, rather than with a modern critical eye.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent canter through two thousand years of Britain
This magnificent book covers British history from the Roman invasion up to the death of Queen Victoria. Read more
Published 15 months ago by John Holland

3.0 out of 5 stars Very informative but dry and with mixed writing style
My knowledge of British history is (was) scant, hence the decision to read this book. I was bowled over by the amount of information but have to confess that the style of writing... Read more
Published on 13 Jul 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful set of tapes
I was woefully ignorant about english history (having chosen to do geography at A level) I find the tapes a real treasure - absorbing, fascinating and relaxing - now I want to... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a Fairy Tale - Only In Real Life!!
This book is fantastic, I did not study history and school and have since regretted it. I was going to study it at A' level, but thought I should read this book instead. Read more
Published on 31 May 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written overview of British history.
Slick but inevitably superficial coverage of British History. Well written with attempts at expressing and explaining the main events with a smattering of detail. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 1999

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