This Sceptred Isle: Volumes 1-10 (BBC Radio Collection)

There are constant passages written by Churchill and others that are very different in writing style, which I found to be a little irritating despite their obvious historic value.

A few diagrams of family trees to illustrate relationships here and there would not have gone amiss.

Finally, the print size left my eyes aching on more than one occasion.

Having said all that, a VERY informative book. Thank you Mr Lee.


A wonderful, insightful and FUN! way to brush up on history   December 13, 2000
19 out of 23 found this review helpful

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?'


Simply the best book on British history I've ever read   September 24, 1999
Paul
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

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.


A wonderful set of tapes   August 1, 1999
4 out of 9 found this review helpful

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 know more.