The Story of Britain [Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Roy Strong (Author), Stephen Thorne (Narrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0753114941 | ISBN-13: 978-0753114940 | Publication Date: January 31, 2002 | Edition: Unabridged

In this masterful book, Roy Strong presents the story of Britain from the very earliest recorded Celtic times to the present day. It is a story of epic sweep and grandeur, and Strong, with his passionate enthusiasm and wide-ranging knowledge, is just the person to tell it. Lavishly illustrated with 300 photographs and works of art, The Story of Britain will be a standard work for years to come.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Here's a well-written history of Britain told as a continuous narrative from Celtic times to the Thatcher era. Names and dates do not intrude on the real story: the changing nature of national power and the development of commerce and culture. Best of all, Strong, a reporter and broadcaster, does not neglect Britain's great cultural and scientific figures, e.g., Chaucer, Shakespeare, Indigo Jones, and Newton. The author chronicles changes in the church from Henry VIII to the present, as well as the religious practices introduced by groups like the Methodists. The lost civil war that created the United States is regarded as a necessary learning experience. The reforms engendered enabled the British to defeat the French and control 25 percent of the world's population by the 1880s. A small sample of the topics covered include the Industrial Revolution, the outlawing of slavery, and the Reform Act of 1832, which broadened Parliament's power base. Strong's Britain is a turbulent, exciting story that reader Stephen Thorne narrates with passionate enthusiasm. An excellent introduction to British history for sophisticated young adults and the general public.
-James L. Dudley, Westhampton Beach, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“A brave, lucid, lively, majestically illustrated volume.” -- THE SPECTATOR

“A must for anyone interested in history.” -- Beryl Bainbridge, SUNDAY EXPRESS

“This is history at its best: clear, comprehensive, and told with huge aplomb and style.” -- Antonia Fraser, INDEPENDENT --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Isis Audio; Unabridged edition (January 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753114941
• ISBN-13: 978-0753114940
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.9 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,989,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad, Not Great, August 31, 2006

By 

Scipio (Chicagoland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of Britain: A People's History (Paperback)

This book definitely has some points in its favor; it's very well-illustrated, fairly comprehensive and readable. However, it also has its flaws. The writing is a bit weak in spots; the author often repeats himself and at other times is unclear. Also, while he mostly sticks to accepted history, like many modern historians he sometimes veers off into opinionated revisionism (e.g. Henry V's "disgraceful" victory at Agincourt). Worse, some things he writes are just plain silly, such as the assertion that the original Celtic inhabitants of Britain were descended from (evidently very slow-moving) hunters who were stuck on the island when it separated from Europe 300,000 years ago - but no homo sapiens existed back then, even in Africa! The problem with books that contain questionable (to be generous) material like this is that everything else you read that you don't already know must be thrown into doubt - kind of ruins the learning process.

Also, as has been mentioned by other reviewers, this is not really a history of Britain, but of England.

But, all-in-all, an attractive, accessible book for the casual historian. It held my interest - but not highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History--Brilliant!!, October 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story of Britain: A People's History (Paperback)

I can't recommend this enough--concise,clear well written ,and accessible .The chapters covering the British Civil Wars and the aftermath are worth the price of the book alone.The author's genius can be seen here--he takes VERY complex social ,religious ,and political events and concisely unravels them to inform and enlighten the reader on what actually happened .I've read Schama's 3 volumes and enjoyed his work immensely,but with Strong I actually learned British History--Well done,very well done.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what an excellent book for childrens use, January 23, 2000

By 

mogs (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of Britain (Hardcover)

I am a mother of three children and have historical questions thrown at me each week. After a long search I found Roy Strong's,excellently written The Story of Britian, it is easy to understand, no waffle, clear and concise, the perfect book for quick referance on history. It is the ideal starting point for any historical matter, from 55B.C. to the postscript beyond 1990. A valuable book for all households with children.