In this digitised age of shared information, it is easy to take for granted the power of the printed word. Here Melvyn Bragg presents a vivid reminder of the book as agent of social, political and personal revolution. In the fascinating book accompanying the ITV series, Melvyn Bragg takes a look at the most important British books in history, and their long-lasting effects which can still be felt throughout the world today. Far from being a study of dry texts, "12 Books That Changed The World" presents a rich variety of human endeavour and a great diversity of characters. From scientific breakthroughs to seminal human rights treatises; from dramatic works of staggering emotional depth to what were at the time seemingly innocuous documents - all these works have shaped the history of Britain and beyond. Definitive, always illuminating and sometimes controversial, the hidden story of these twelve books is a journey through the colourful history of our island and its people.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"'Melvyn Bragg's superb new history of the English language is told as an adventure story, and rightly so. There is much splendid intellectual firepower in this book.' - Andrew Roberts, Spectator 'Excellent... always readable, often thought-provoking, and consistently entertaining.' - Independent 'Bragg's approachable account...gleams with little gems. His enthusiasm is appealing...he digs beneath modernity and examines our bedrock with a sympathetic eye. It has power and clarity...this adventure is rewarding.' - Sunday Herald 'This is a highly readable, jargon-free treatise on a notoriously prickly subject. Bragg's affection for his subject is infectious. In this he successfully joins a long tradition of gentleman enthusiasts from peppery Dr Johnson to genial James Murray.' - Observer"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Melvyn Bragg's first novel, For Want of a Nail, was published in 1965 and since then his novels have included The Hired Man, for which he won the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, Without a City Wall, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, Credo, The Maid of Buttermere and The Soldier's Return, which was published to huge critical acclaim in 1999 and won the WHSmith Literary Award. He has also written several works of non-fiction including Speak for England, an oral history of the twentieth century, Rich, a biography of Richard Burton and On Giants' Shoulders, a history of science based on his BBC radio series. He was born in 1939 and educated at Wigton's Nelson Tomlinson Shool and at Oxford where he read history. He is controller of Arts at LWT and President of the National Campaign for the Arts, and in 1998 he was made a life peer. He lives in London and Cumbria.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Books Can and Do Change the World,
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This review is from: 12 Books That Changed the World (Paperback)
Melvyn Bragg's "12 Books That Changed the World" is a wonderful read.
Within Bragg's title, it is important to that it doesn't say: THE 12 books that changed the world. However, it is certain that the books he quotes would be high up on most lists. His list eclectic and sometimes almost esoteric but includes such tomes as Newton's "Principia", Arkwright's patent for a spinning machine, the Magna Carta, the King James Bible, Charles Darwin's Origin of Species and, quixotically, the Rules of Association Football. There could be endless debate about what books should be in and what book should out. Bragg has placed a line in the sand. His choice is brilliant yet, at the same time, sure to generate argument. Foe each of the twelve books, Bragg provides a brief synopsis of the work and its place in history. The reader comes away feeling enlightened without having been talked down to. Bragg has a writing style that is well paced. This is a book that can be read by any general reader with an interest in history and a love of books. Let there be no doubt, books have changed the world. We may argue that some books deserve a high or lower reverence than another but we cannot argue about the true impact of books. To have not read is to be a poorer for that fact. Furthermore, it is a brave person who can argue against the King James Bible, the Magna Carta and the works of Darwin and Newton. These books did change the world. We may disagree with the benefit of that impact but we cannot deny that there was an impact. I strongly recommend this work to lovers of English. Above all else, if Bragg's book shows nothing else, it is English that has become the world's language.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Twelve of the thousands of books that have changed the world,
By
This review is from: 12 Books That Changed the World (Paperback)
Bragg is a book- lover who in his introduction tries to justify, for what many would probably need no justification, the idea that books have changed the world. He then goes on to explain why he has chosen the twelve particular books he has. He starts off with Newton's 'Principia' a work which certainly is one of the most important ever published. He tells the story of Newton's life and accomplishment in a few very clearly written pages. The Lincolnshire lad during the plague years of 1665-66 sat at home thinking twenty hours a day , and in doing so provided a new and basic understanding of the physical laws of the universe. His last selection is another of the world's most important, Shakespeare's 'Folios'. Here he takes great pains to explain why he has chosen a work of Literature . Imaginative literature he contends does not bring about social change but rather has importance in altering individual lives and consciousnesses. Among his other selections are works which no doubt have made major changes in the world, including 'The Magna Carta' ' The Origin of Species' 'The King James Bible' 'The Wealth of Nations' His other selections are Mary Wollstonecraft's ' A Vindication of the Rights of Women' Faraday's ' Experimental Researches in Electricity' Richard Awkright's " Patent Specification for a Spinning Machine' ' The Rule Book of Association Football' ' Married Love' by Marie Stopes.
As I had never heard of Stopes before it was particularly interesting to read her story. According to Bragg she is a major figure in educating the world in the idea that women should not merely suffer sexual relations with their husbands but actually enjoy them. In another interesting chapter he explains how James Awkwright who was not a great inventor but rather a major entrepreneur created the innovation, the factory system which brought about the Industrial Revolution. Bragg's does not say that these are the twelve books which have most influenced the world. Clearly most of them do not fit into that category. The book should have perhaps been more honestly titled, 'Twelve English or British books that changed the world' however parochial sounding that might be. He does explain why he includes some which are not really books, but rather 'documents' . He explains that he wanted to provide a lively read and selections from various areas of life. He provides summaries of the books, and traces their influence historically. This is a readable, informative, enjoyable work if not an especially profound one.
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting,
By
This review is from: 12 Books That Changed the World (Paperback)
This is a book of 12 essays on 12 British books, all of which indeed help change the world; however, to me they sound like voice overs for 12 programs in a first class TV series -- full of interesting information and anecdotes for people who are not familiar with these works but not daring or particularly enlightening for people who are. And regardless of Mr. Bragg's reasoning, I think all of the books would have been better served had they been put in chronologic order. To start with Newton's "Principia Mathematica" (1687), go to Marie Stopes' "Married Love" (1918) then to Magna Carta (1215) is not only jarring but humbles Stopes' work. At least for me.
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