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Title: A History of Britain, Volume II, The Wars of the British, 1603-1776 by Simon Schama, Timothy West ISBN: 1-55927-637-1 Publisher: Audio Renaissance Pub. Date: 07 December, 2001 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 4 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.14 (14 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Schama finds his stride
Comment: I have enjoyed both installments of the television series, so it was with with great anticipation that I purchased both book companion pieces. I was dissapointed with volume 1 - probably with a stronger sense than normal since I spent so much money on it. Schama tried to cover several thousand years in one rather slim volume and it didn't work.
Nevertheless I ventured into the second volume and within the first fifty pages realized that at least part of my money was well spent. Volume two is much more focused, covering approximately 175 years. As another reviewer has observed this volume consists of an in-depth look at 17th century England. It's an excellent account of the English Civil War,Oliver Cromwell dictatorship, and the Restoration of the English monarchy. The chapter on the Restoration is over seventy pages long, a well written account of twenty - eight years. In comparison Schama covers several centuries in the same amount of space in volume one and it shows.
Schama also examines England during the eighteenth century; covering the beginning of the British Empire, the birth of modern caitalism, unification of England and Scotland and, of course, the American Revolution. This part is also well written and researched, but I found the first half to be suspenseful as well as insightful and dramatic. The second half tends towards a drier academic air - not a bad thing, just not as gripping.
Schama is a narrative historian, more of a storyteller than an academic. His writing is fast moving and he isn't afraid to take a stand, even if it tends to go against the popular opinion. The book itself consists of good quality paper and binding and it has some very nice illustrations throughout. While I have a few quibbles with his style, I think he should of had annotated notes at the end for example, overall I'm very impressed with the second volume. It isn't cheap, but it's worth it. I'll keep both books on my shelf, but I definitely see myself refering to volume two more often.
Rating: 5
Summary: British History for the American Anglophile.
Comment: Simon Schama has written a fabulous book that takes the reader from the England that was merely an archipelago up to the time it becomes an empire. The time period of 1603-1776 is many times ignored or at best passed over quickly in your typical English history class or text. Here,the decidedly bloody English Civil Wars are given their due; the foundations of individual liberty and representative government were established during this time period and then exported to colonial America. The role of religion in politics (17th century version) is explored by the author as Oliver Cromwell's true influence on the nation. A must read for any anglophile.
Rating: 4
Summary: Fun Read
Comment: If history bores you and you enjoy reading, I think Schama intends more to educate through entertainment than to simply educate. This is not the typical history book and is well-written. There are plenty of funny, interesting, and most often brief acounts given that help one understand and provide laughs at times. Schama is not a British historian and has lived in the US for maybe the last 25 years. But on account of being British, a Columbia professor, and--based on reading his three volumes on British history--an excellent writer, he has been encouraged and has writen about British history.
After reading this book I got a good feel of the life at the time, and I think that is largely due to the historical records Schama uses that show the emotions and logic of the times. The beautiful pictures also help in fostering a sense of what Britain is and was like. This book is a very easy and enjoyable read read, and I think this book is perfect for the reader unfamiliar with British history but does not take to history per se.
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Title: A History of Britain : At the Edge of the World, 3500 B.C.-1603 A.D by Schama Simon ISBN: 0786866756 Publisher: Miramax Pub. Date: 25 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: A History of Britain: The Fate of Empire 1776-2000 by Schama Simon ISBN: 0786868996 Publisher: Miramax Pub. Date: 18 December, 2002 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: A History of Britain, Volume 3: The Fate of Empire 1776-2002 by Simon Schama, Timothy West ISBN: 1559277661 Publisher: Audio Renaissance Pub. Date: May, 2003 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
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Title:A History of Britain - The Complete Collection ASIN: B00006RCKI Publisher: A & E Home Video Pub. Date: 26 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $99.95 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $86.96 |
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Title: Citizens : A Chronicle of the French Revolution by Simon Schama ISBN: 0679726101 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 17 March, 1990 List Price(USD): $28.00 |
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