Customer Reviews

A History of Britain: The Complete Collection (2008 Repackage)

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Schama's History of Britain is indeed a fine introduction to British History (or at least British History through English eyes). This documentary series is very well made and deserves all the 5 star ratings it get's at this site. However, no one seems to mention that this DVD set released by A&E/The History Channel is actually a cropped version, modified to fit a standard TV screen. This series was shot by the BBC in widescreen, as much to take advantage of the new widescreen medium as to project the panoramic grandeur of British history.

Both the Region 2 (UK & Europe) and Region 4 (Australia & New Zealand) versions are all in the original 1.85:1 widescreen (enhanced for widescreen TV). Only in America are we afforded the singular privilege of watching this show in a crappy Pan-&-Scan format courtesy of A&E/The History Channel.

The best buy right now would be to get the UK edition sold under the BBC's own label. Not only does it have 6 discs (1 disc of special features) compared to 5 in the American version, it is also much cheaper. You can get it through Amazon UK (at a 43% discount as of this date). Just make sure your system is able to play Region 2 discs and has native PAL capability. UK programs are recorded in PAL format rather than standard American NTSC.

There are a lot of history specials out there, but none so brilliantly conceived and realised at this series. I love history, especially the history of Britain, and so it was never dry, stale facts to me. But few bring it into focus, make it so accessible, and cut through the fat, so to speak, to give you a clean, logical, common sense approach to History of England 101 Crash Course as Simon Schama does. Each episode is well-written, fast paced and thoughtfully crafted, with marvellous location work to support his tromp through the corridors of time. He discards dates as the primary input and goes to the movers and shakers, makes you see the Kings and King makers with eyes that are fresh and vital.

After you travel this amazing journey through time, you will be sadden that history is not present this way in the schools and we all did not have Schama as our teacher!

Nirvana for British History lovers!

I am neither a history scholar nor a serious history buff, but I suppose that I am an Anglophile (with an especial appreciation for Thomas More, Charles Dickens, G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and, at the moment, Tony Blair). I rushed out to buy this set after hearing Simon Schama give a talk at Brigham Young University earlier this year. Schama is a very charismatic speaker, and I'd be surprised if he didn't end up selling hundreds of BYU students and faculty on his videos that day.

When I think of this series, a few of the words that come to mind are "beauty", "authenticity", and "solemnity". Schama's narration is spell-binding, and the cinematography (if that's the right word) is gorgeous. These are documentaries that it looks like took a lot of money to make, not because of the scale of historical re-enactments involved (which is relatively modest) but because of the overall quality of the product.

Since Schama can neither be classified as a hagiographer nor an iconoclast, I'd almost include the word "balanced" in my description of his work, but that word might suggest mediocrity or at least moderation, and there's nothing lukewarm about the positions Schama takes. I suppose that there are people out there who might find Schama's dramatic and strongly-opinionated style off-putting. There might even be people who find the British countryside ugly and Britain's historical treasures boring. To the rest of you, I give this set a strong recommendation. As one caveat: there are maybe 2 or 3 spots in the 15 hours of this series in which parental discretion might be advised.

This 2008 repackaging of 2001's "A History of Britain", featuring Simon Schama as author and presenter, is not the standard history of Great Britain. Schama is no slave to historical convention and his 15-episode retelling explores British history from a slightly different point of view.

Schama's famous BBC series traces British history from Roman Britain through the death of Winston Churchill in 1965. His focus is not timeline oriented; many prominent players in British history rate no more than passing mention. Even the iconic Churchill has to share the last episode with Eric Blair, better known by his literary name of George Orwell. Instead, Schama seeks to identify the slow, difficult steps by which Britain became a constitutional monarchy with individual freedoms and the rule of law. Those steps are found in Roman Britain, in the endless dynastic and religious wars that defined the powers of the monarchy and parliament, in the disaster of the Black Death, and in the long political and military struggles to build a united British nation and then a British empire.

The episodes feature important archeological sites, castles, ruined abbeys, and other locations where important events took place. We meet the prominent personalities of the narrative through pictures, paintings, sculptures, tomb representations, and, rarely, reenactment. Schama narrates in person, stalking through ruins, landscapes and museums while delivering his rather blunt colloquial commentary.

"A History of Britain" is not for everyone. The thematic presentation may be hard to follow for those not already familiar with British history. Those wedded to a romantic vision of a storied past may find Schama's blunt disection of power politics to be off-setting. Schama's twitchy physical presence may be distracting for some viewers.

On the other hand, this telling of British history is engaging, realistic, and thought-provoking in getting at the heart of what it means to be British. The story is as much Scottish, Irish, and Welsh as English in coverage. Prominent personalities are shown in their full rounded humanity. The presention itself is polished work. "A History of Britain" is therefore highly recommended to fans of British history looking for a fresh angle.

I was one of those who throughout my school history lessons (I'm British btw) - yawned, misspelt essays, forgot important dates and mixed-up defining moments of my home country. It was just not for me, science please. After watching this series, I wish they had DVD's a few years ago!

As soon as I saw the first episode, I went out, took the risk and bought the set. Fantastic. Divided into nice bite size pieces, Simon Schama takes us through the years, actually giving me an understanding and perspective on what happened so long ago, in an entertaining and informative style. Somehow he seems to get huge amounts of information, without you even realising it. I began to understand Britain's role defining parts of world history, for right or wrong.

Boy can he tell a tale and keep you intrigued, it's hard for you not to want to stick the next DVD in, save for not wanting to get through it too soon. But then you do and rapidly get back to the beginning, watching it all again.

Simon has his own style of narrative delivery, twitching and jerking his way when on screen. Most amusing but you can't not be endeared to him and be in awe of his knowledge. Respect.

Perhaps not for the history boffin? Not at all, my girlfriend is history nut and she loves it. It has pride of place in my collection.

Keep up the good work BBC, your're unique, paid for by the people, for the people. And advertising free.

When I started watching I expected it to be up to the ususal BBC standards, after all BBC is the producer of the mind blowing "Planet Earth" series. And I could not be more right! "A History of Britian" is nothing less than an experience that must be lived to be believed. It takes you in a time machine ride to cover 3000 years of Britian's history using stunning visuals and excellent music. Of course nowhere near the detail of the 3 books by Simon with the same title, but he manages to include as much detail in 15 hours as anyone will ever be able to do. My only take is that the 20th century, including WW1, WW2 and the struggle with the IRA, are mentioned in just few words certainly not proportionate to how big those events were. So you better think of it as a comprehensive history of Britian up to the end of the 19th century.

That said, this American release is cropped (image cut on sides) to fit 4:3 TV screens. The original program was shot in wide screen by the BBC, thus this American release is a ture mess. I bought the R2 UK set which is in wide screen, and it also comes with a bonus sixth DVD with extra material.

A History of Britain is a wonderful but pricey treat for any fan of British history. Some of the negative reviews complain that it is too superficial. How, I would ask, can you give a COMPLETE history of a country that spans 5,000 years? The collection consists of 15 hour-long documentaries starting from Britain's earliest past, five-thousand years ago. We see the still-standing stone communities where the ancient British dwelled.

Of course, Simon Schama must be selective in what he chooses to discuss. Each episode has a theme. Although all the major points of British history are touched upon, Schama will focus on the most interesting bits of each event - how and why they happened and what they meant. He tries to give us a sense of reasons behind historical events and not just dates and places. My favorite episode deals with Henry II - arguably England's greatest and most under-appreciated monarch. We see his troubles with Thomas a Beckett. Schama re-creates, in vivid detail, what the "Murder in the Cathedral" was like: Beckett was not a plaster saint, but a street-wise tough kid from the wrong side of the docks who fearlessly faced down his murderers.

Visually, the series shows some re-enactments with actors. There are many voice-over readings of historical documents. Schama is the only featured performer. He takes you to the various places and narrates in a very distinctive, clipped manner of speaking. Ultimately, it is the shots of the timeless Britain that are the most effective - the hills, the meadows, and especially the sea. These are the bits that have remained the same and convey the greatest feeling of history.

I can't imagine anybody not being fascinated by this program. They are very re-watchable. Having examined them, you will feel a much deeper understanding of British history - and indeed world history. Perhaps no other country has a story as fascinating, as rich, or as varied as Britain's. Watch this and you will know why.

I initially rented this series from NetFlix, and enjoyed it so much, that I decided this would be a great addition to my Library.
As a former British Subject, and a history buff, this package, had everything I wanted and more. It was very well produced and had lots of little items, that I hadn't been aware off.
I would recommend this to anyone, who is interested in British History.
Even when you go back hundreds of years ago, you can see how much of that History, matches what is happening today.
The package is well designed and at the price I paid, was more than well worth its price.
If you have a History buff in your family, this would make a great gift for them.

Schama does a wonderful job at making history interesting! Far more than a dry recitation of dates and names, this series takes you behind the facts to help you understand the forces that caused the events. Every episode is fascinating and fun to watch.

Just as an example, I had always heard a very one-sided view of Cromwell, with the result that I thought he was an evil fanatic. However, Schama brings him to life as a three-dimensional man with faults but who had a great vision of a better life for the common man.

This series is also a visual treat, with colorful recreations and imaginative illustrations. Beautiful paintings and sculptures are used to illustrate historic figures.

This series is well worth the money.

Sweeping from the dawn of civilization to the 20th century, A HISTORY OF BRITAIN: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION discards timelines and tiresome lineages for a lively look at the personalities and events that shaped the nation.

Disc 1
Beginnings
(circa 3100 BC - 1000 AD)
From Neolithic villages like Skara Brae to the arrival of the Romans and the Viking invasions of the 8th century, A HISTORY OF BRITAIN opens with a whirlwind look at the forces that defined life in England in the years before the Battle of Hastings.

Conquest!
(circa 1000 - 1087)
The path of Western Civilization changed in nine hours. Without William the Conqueror's victory in 1066, Britqain might well have been a Scandinavian province. But the Battle of Hastings made Britain part of an Anglo-Norman empire that, in time, overshadowed even the kings of France.

Dynasty
(circa 1087 - 1216)
The great Norman empire tore itself apart over questions of who should rule. Out of this bloody struggle emerged a new dynasty, one that produced three of the most famous and misunderstood kings in British history: Henry II, Richard I, and John.

Biographies:
Simon Schama
King Edward the Confessor

Disc 2
Nations
(circa 1216 - 1348)
In the 13th century, the people of Britain found their voice: proud, defiant, and nationalistic. Its language derived not from idealism, but as a response to the subjugation in the campaigns of Edward I to extend his authority over Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

King Death
(1348 - 1500)
The plague arrived in England in 1348 and killed over 1 million people - a third of the population - in just over a decade. But it also paved the way for a series of radical reforms that saw Britain stripped of its feudal remnants and ready to face the future by 1500.

Burning Convictions
(circa 1500 - 1558)
Under Henry VIII, loyalty to one's faith was treason and loyalty to one's king was heresy. Henry's break with the Church marked the beginning of an extraordinary period that saw a nation largely at peace with its Catholic soul bribed, tortured, and cajoled into accepting Protestantism.

Biographies:
Robert the Bruce
William Wallace

Disc 3
The Body of the Queen
(1558 - 1603)
Elizabeth I led a Protestant nation to greatness in a hostile, Catholic world, all the while deflecting intense pressure to marry and conceive an heir. Her success stands in marked contrast to the fate of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.

The British Wars
(1603 - 1649)
Charles I ascended to the throne in 1625 with a firm belief in the Divine Right of Kings. This almost immediately put him at odds with the Parliament, and their struggle soon expanded to every corner of the British Isles.

Revolutions
(1649 - 1689)
England emerged from 50 years of civil wars a kingless republic led by Oliver Cromwell, yet the fighting was far from over. Cromwell sent troops to Scotland and Ireland, and after his death and the restoration of the monarchy, a brief period of peace came to an end during the reign of James II.

Biographies:
Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots
Queen Elizabeth I

Disc 4
Britannia Incorporated
(circa 1690 - circa 1750)
England in the 1690s saw the victors of the "Glorious Revolution" celebrating the dawn of a new era under William III, while in Scotland the Jacobites still supported the deposed King James II. The new Britain was built upon money and commerce, not God.

The Wrong Empire
(circa 1750 - circa 1800)
With political stability and commercial prosperity at home, Britain turned its sights outward. The Wrong Empire travels from the back streets of revolutionary Boston to the slums of Calcutta to chronicle the astonishing transformation that followed. It's a story of exploration and daring - but also of exploitation and conflict.

Forces of Nature
(circa 1780 - circa 1832)
Led by the radical intellectuals of the "romantic generation," Britain experienced a flowering of political discourse in the late 18th century, based on an appreciation of nature and the common man. But while similar forces led to revolution in France, England avoided that bloody fate.

Biographies:
The Jacobites
King George III

Disc 5
Victoria and Her Sisters
(1830 - circa 1910)
In 1837, the 18-year-old Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in the midst of a radical transformation driven by technology and industrialization. The young queen paved the way for a generation of women to assume prominent roles in every area of British society.

Empire of Good Intentions
(circa 1830 - circa 1925)
As the ruler of the largest empire the world had ever seen, Britain hoped to deliver "civilization" while saving its subjects from famine and disease. But from Ireland to India, this noble purpose dissolved ina morass of blood, grief and broken promises.

The Two Winstons
(20th century)
A HISTORY OF BRITAIN: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION concludes with a comparison of two of the most influential 20th century Britons - George Orwell and Winston Churchill. Schama's compelling analysis of their lives and legacies illuminates fundamental questions surrounding the role of history in society.

Biographies:
Queen Victoria
William Gladstone
Sir Winston Churchill