Product Details

• Actors: Timothy West, Bill Paterson, James Bolam
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: November 20, 2001
• Run Time: 300 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005QW76
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,777 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  Video > Television > History Channel > World History

• This is item 2 in The History of Britain Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
British historian Simon Schama narrows his focus considerably in this second part of his A History of Britain. The first six episodes covered thousands of years from the Neolithic age to the reign of Elizabeth I, but here he devotes five hours to a crucial period of less than two centuries, when Britain was utterly transformed.

The series describes the painful birth of Great Britain as a world power between 1603 and 1776, moving from Scottish rebellions and the English Civil Wars to the American Revolution and the growth of the British Empire. Schama devotes little time to social history--with the exception of a wonderful sketch of Hannoverian London—concentrating instead on the shift of power from kings to politicians and the growing importance of trade. This allows the narrative to proceed quickly, and makes the key personalities of a turbulent period come alive.

Schama is a compelling storyteller, and his presence helps The History of Britain avoid the twin traps of dryness and excessive gimmickry. Judicious use of cleverly filmed reconstructions and superb music (including a song from Elvis Costello) help keep the story moving, but it is Schama himself who makes the hours fly by. His complete confidence in the importance of the past to our understanding of the present makes The History of Britain both fascinating and thrilling. --Simon Leake

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two important centuries, December 29, 2001

By	Georgia Lane (Galesburg, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Simon Schama does an excellent job of telling his audience about these important two centuries which strongly influenced and formed the England of today. He judiciously chooses music which enhances the visual scenes portraying the struggles of the various types of people, their loyalties, their battles, their fights to gain power -- physically, religiously, socially. One could view it numerous times, learning more at each viewing. This is a fine fast-moving film, well done and interesting as well as educational.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SYNOPSIS, February 16, 2002

By A Customer

"Schama knows how to tell a story. [His] breezy humor can be quite refreshing."
--Los Angeles Times

"an elegantly written, consistently engaging account of a seminal period in British history, penned by one of today's finest historians."
--Publishers Weekly

The second companion book to the monumental video series A HISTORY OF BRITAIN, this authoritative and wonderfully written work chronicles the imperialism, conflict, growth and change that transformed England in the 17th and 18th centuries. Noted Columbia University historian Simon Schama starts this volume with the story of the Stuart dynasty, and concludes with the American Revolution. The text is complemented by 160 color photos and maps.