History of Britain, A - Volume I: At the Edge of the World? 3000 B.C.--A.D. 1603Miramax Books, 2000 M10 25 - 416 pages Simon Schama's magesterial new book encompasses over 1,500 years of Britain's history, from the first Roman invasions to the early seventeenth century, and the extraordinary reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Schama, the author of the highly acclaimed Citizens and The Embarrassment of Riches, is one of the most popular and celebrated historians of our day, and in this magnificent work he brings history to dramatic life with a wealth of stories and vivid, colorful detail, reanimating familiar figures and events and drawing them skillfully into a powerful and compelling narrative. Schama's perspective moves from the birth of civilization to the Norman Conquest; through the religious wars and turbulance of the Middle Ages to the sovereignties of Henry II, Richard I and King John; through the outbreak of the Black Death, which destroyed nearly half of Europe's population, through the reign of Edward I and the growth of national identity in Wales and Scotland, to the intricate conflicts of the Tudors and the clash between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Driven by the drama of the stories themselves but exploring at the same time a network of interconnected themes--the formation of a nation state, the cyclical nature of power, the struggles between the oppressors and the oppressed--this is a superbly readable and illuminating account of a great nation, and its extraordinary history. |
From inside the book
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Page 120
... side in the civil war was prepared to let the magnates of the shires do what they wished - build castles , create private armies , carry out- vendettas against personal enemies , torch their manors - as long as it hurt the other side ...
... side in the civil war was prepared to let the magnates of the shires do what they wished - build castles , create private armies , carry out- vendettas against personal enemies , torch their manors - as long as it hurt the other side ...
Page 137
... side would be asked to abandon their convictions , only to be less intemperate about their expression . That way , Becket would restore peace to the realm , end his exile and have his property returned , and Henry would get his ...
... side would be asked to abandon their convictions , only to be less intemperate about their expression . That way , Becket would restore peace to the realm , end his exile and have his property returned , and Henry would get his ...
Page 180
... side at all . Encouraged by the greater numbers of the royalist side , including a substantial number of Anglo - Irish and Scots knights - among them Robert Bruce ( 1210–95 ) – Edward launched a full - tilt charge at the opposing troops ...
... side at all . Encouraged by the greater numbers of the royalist side , including a substantial number of Anglo - Irish and Scots knights - among them Robert Bruce ( 1210–95 ) – Edward launched a full - tilt charge at the opposing troops ...
Other editions - View all
A History of Britain - Volume 1: At the Edge of the World? 3000 BC ..., Volume 1 Simon Schama No preview available - 2009 |
A History of Britain - Volume 1: At the Edge of the World? 3000 BC-AD 1603 Simon Schama No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
Abbey Alfred Angevin Anglo-Saxon Anne Archbishop Archbishop of Canterbury army barons battle became Becket bishops Black Death body Britain British brother Bruce campaign Canterbury castles Catherine Catholic Cecil century Christian chronicler Church Cnut coronation court Crown Dal Riata died Dudley Duke Earl earls of Mercia East Anglia Edward Edward the Confessor Eleanor Elizabeth empire England English face father France French fyrd Godwine Gwynedd Harold Harthacnut heir Henry Henry II Henry's horses huscarls Ireland John king king's kingdom knew knights land London lord magnates marriage married Mary Mary's medieval Montfort Norfolk Norman Normandy Northumbria numbers parliament perhaps Plantagenet political pope priests prince Protestant queen realm Reformation reign Richard Robert Roman Rome royal Saxon Scotland Scots Scottish seemed Simon survived thegns Thomas thought throne tomb took Tostig Tower troops Tudor Viking village Wales Walsingham Welsh Wessex Westminster William