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Title: Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples by Henry Steel Commager ISBN: 0-517-06019-1 Publisher: Random House Value Publishing Pub. Date: 01 June, 1994 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $9.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (9 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: more like "thoughts on english speaking leadership"
Comment: so after seeing Braveheart the movie I wanted to learn a a bit more of English history. This compressed (Readers Digress?)version of WC's opus zips along and gives the basics of English & North American history but the main emphasis is commentary on the leadership successes and failures of various kings, dukes, generals and politicians. WC loves the battlefield and gushes respect for combat leaders. The writing, turns of phrase and opinions expressed are superbly crafted. The book starts with pre-Roman Brits and ends with the passing of Queen Victoria, with England and the USA the leading world powers facing the 20th century together. Churchill pushes the theory that human events have always been directed by "special beings" with greater energy and the will to get what they want. He seems to be saying through parallelism, "see, i'm the same as these guys, I too am great, QED". His book, or at least this version, glosses over and I think misses other factors that may answer why, in the course of human affairs, events happen apart from the English speaking personalities, such as technologies, climate changes, other cultures. Bottom line though, if you need a concise history on your bookshelf, a used copy of this will do well.
Rating: 5
Summary: Churchill could also write !!!
Comment: If you can chose between the single volume and 4 volume versions, go for the later. It is definitely worth your time. Churchill's writing is as clear, witty and straightforward, as he was as a politician.
Churchill proves to be a great historian.
Rating: 4
Summary: Read this book!
Comment: I studied English history in school and found the intertwining of "houses" and kings confusing and could never get their relationships organized in my mind.
Churchill's narrative style, along with the charts of the succession of royalty clarifies it for me. Further, knowing the succession provides "hooks" for mentally assigning other historical figures to particular eras, such as Becket, William Wallace and Joan of Arc.
It also tells the "rest of the story" for popularly well know stories such as the (fictional) Robin Hood era. "Everyone" knows that while Richard the Lion Hearted was imprisoned Prince John tried to take over the kingship, but was frustrated when Richard returned. However, how many people know that when Richard was mortally wounded in a subsequent battle he designated Prince John to become King, and that it was this King John who was forced to sign the Magna Carta?
True, this is an abridgement of Churchill's writings, but it is, nonetheless, Churchill's writings and remains fresh, direct and pungent.
Read this book!
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Title: The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England by Antonia Fraser ISBN: 0520224604 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: A History of Medieval Spain by Joseph O'Callaghan ISBN: 0801492645 Publisher: Cornell University Press Pub. Date: 01 August, 1983 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Richard the Third by Paul Murray Kendall ISBN: 0393007855 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 September, 1975 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Isabella of Spain: The Last Crusader (1451-1504) by William Walsh ISBN: 0895553201 Publisher: T A N Books & Publishers Pub. Date: 01 December, 1987 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title: Characters of the Inquisition (1053) by William Walsh ISBN: 0895553260 Publisher: T A N Books & Publishers Pub. Date: 01 December, 1987 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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