A Short History Of England

3.50 out of 5 (2 ratings)

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Format:: Paperback
Pages:: 224
Publisher:: Profile Books Ltd
Publication Date:: 04 October 2012
Category:: Books
ISBN:: 9781846684630

Description

This is the definitive concise account of our remarkable past. Which battle was fought 'For England, Harry and St George'? Who demanded to be painted 'warts and all'? What - and when - was the Battle of the Bulge? In "A Short History of England", bestselling author Simon Jenkins answers all these questions - and many more - as he tells the tumultuous story of a fascinating nation. From the invaders of the dark ages to today's coalition, via the Tudors, the Stuarts and two world wars, Jenkins weaves together a gripping narrative with all the most important and interesting dates in his own inimitable style. Until now there has been no short history of England covering all significant event themes and individuals: this bestselling book, published in association with the National Trust, will be the standard work for years to come.

Reader Reviews

Showing 1-3 out of 3 reviews.

An excellent brief history of England. Jenkins does not offer any startlingly new interpretation of English history but he does write with his customary lucidity, and uses his journalistic experience to ensure that his story is always engaging.I was particularly impressed with his concise and clear recounting of both the Wars of the Roses and then the English Civil War - he recounts both these campaigns with great clarity, explaining the respective interests and motivations with great verve. He is also very strong on the political vacillations of Churchill's career, and on the whole pantheon of nineteenth century political history.All in all a verye njoyable and informative book.

4.00 out of 5

Eyejaybee
A very brief and chatty history of England (not Great Britain, so no Scotland, Ireland, or Wales). Informational, yet doesn't bog you down with dates. Focus was on politics, not monarchy, so after William III the book discusses Parliament and the Prime Ministers with occasional mentions of a monarch. Also, I would have loved some maps, especially in the early centuries and as a non-Brit.

3.00 out of 5

Bodagirl
Does what it says on the tin: provides a short history of England. It begins with the departure of the legions and ends with the Cameron-Clegg coalition of 2010. It's very much a history of *England*, not Britain. I like the fact that it mentions such matters as Jamaican immigration.

out of 5

Fledgist