Rating: 
Summary: A Brief History of Britain
Review: This book is the companion to the BBC / History Channel series of the same title. This should be an immediate clue as to the type of book this is. It is not a detailed reference book on British history. The book contains some text quoted verbatim in the TV show, which should give you an idea of how the narrative is presented.Schama sets out to tell the story of how Britain became the nation it is today. He does not, he is keen to point out, subscribe to stuff of Shakespearean legend, that British history was an inevitable expression of a single, perpetual British identity. The history of Britain, Schama contends, is characterised not by continuity but by conflict and flux. The book is well illustrated, reads well and is never boring, but I did find the discussion of some royal conflicts confusing. Because many of the major players in these power struggles shared both lineage and names, it is sometimes difficult to tell, without pausing to work it out, exactly which Henry or Edward is being referred to. A family tree of English kings is presented at one point (a page I went back to a few times) but it only covers a few kings (William I to Henry III). Schama's TV show has been widely praised here in the UK and has been credited (along with other popular historians such as David Starkey) with bringing about resurgence of interest in Britain's history and cultural heritage. If the term "popular historians" is ringing alarm bells you probably don't want this book. As I said, it is not a historian's textbook. But it is a concise and well written introduction to the people and events that shaped the destiny of the British nation, and indeed the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Is a breezy, broad but compressed history useful as a book?
Review: This book is written in British. I found the use of slang to make pointed comments and clever asides, occasionally incisive and entertaining, but often confusing. This raised eyebrow tone undoubtedly transformed the narrator into a fine companion for the duration of the affiliated documentary. The book provides a quite general overview of the timeline of British (predominately English) history. While this is fine as the basis for a dazzling television entertainment, and it certainly entertains as one reads it, I began to wonder about the usefulness of a book for this purpose. As is usually the case for an author managing the contemplation of such a magnitude of time the book is brutally concise. Events that often overlap are told episodically. This means historically important people pop in and out of the narrative. In Britain most of them have titles as well as names, which are commonly used interchangeably by the Brits. Although one encounters this in all British literature, for an American it makes it hard to keep track of individuals. The Earl of This or the Duke of That can seem awfully long lived. And I gave up on keeping track of the titled players who became King completely! The Lord Whofordshire that won the famous victory of A While Ago disappears into a baffling succession of Edwards and Richards scattered amongst Henrys. I've concludes that it's likely more useful to read books that focus on one of the subjects reviewed here; the Tudors or the War of the Roses or the Plague Years or the East India Company. For this enormous subject I wish I'd chosen the video. I may have recognized Lord Whofordshire as Edward the ?? from the visuals.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: This book would have been more aptly titled: "The Royal Soap Opera: A History of the English Sovereign". There is almost nothing in this book that isn't directly related to the royal family: virtually nothing about such things as daily life, art, language, agriculture, or warfare. While this book is interesting, except for the disruptions caused by the Black Death and the Peasant's Revolt in the 14th century, it's as if nothing occurred in England other than the desperate grabs for power by the nobility. In other words: nothing that hasn't been done dozens of times before. While the subject matter is interesting and the book engaging (if that is what you are looking for), coming from Schama, it is a crashing disappointment. What happened to the man who wrote "Landscape and Memory"?. Even if this book was only written to pay the bills, surely he could have done something more exceptional. It's difficult to say what the 2nd volume will be like. Since this book ends abruptly at 1603, it seems likely that volume 2 will take us up to the present day; hopefully though, it would be more of a companion book that focuses on the other aspects of British life - something more along the lines of his great book "Embarrassment of Riches."
Rating:
Summary: A History of British Monarchs, not Britain Per Se
Review: This book, while still a good text, was not a history of Britain per se. The book is more of a history of the rulers of Britain. However, one of the pluses of this text is the fact that it includes some wonderful photos and illustrations. Another positive element of the text is the fact that Schama begins his research in and around the 3500 B.C. time frame. Thus, he discusses events that lead to British rule. However, he is not too detailed about this pre-British period and it left me wanting. If you are interested in Britain's leaders (kings, queens, etc) then you will love this text. But if you are wanting a historical exposition of Britain then skip this book and keep searching. I completely disagree with Time Magazine's assessment of the text (on the back cover) which reads, "A Work of Rare Brilliance . . . makes entertainment and erudition work hand in hand."
Rating:
Summary: Racing with rulers
Review: This delightful romp through Britain's history from Roman to Elizabethan times is enchanting reading. Although mis-titled, since Schama dispenses with two millennia in but a few pages, his engrossing prose keeps your attention fixed through every page. He hasn't, of course, given us a "history of Britain" in any but a limited sense. The theme is the governance of a nation with expanding and contracting borders, rulers and those aspiring to rule drifting on and off the stage, and the politics of ruling such a land. The "life" of the country - the tillers, shepherds, artificers, fishermen, are pushed offstage unseen. Not intended as an academic study, it's an entertaining overview. Schama's prose is often evocative. A prime example is his account of the preliminaries leading to the invasion at Hastings and the encounter itself. We witness, almost as participants, the victories and waning of Edward, king of Wessex. His successor, Harold, crosses the reach of England to defeat invading Vikings prior to the rush south to counter William of Normandy. At the battle site, Schama brings you onto the battle site, viewing the impending clash first from the English side, then from the Norman. You sweat and reflect, facing determined enemies prior to the onslaught. He moves you with the troops, thrusting, dodging, suffering as the battle rages. By the time you reach the pages of William's consolidating his victory, you are breathless. Schama is rarely detached from events throughout this book, and he has you at his side at every significant circumstance. His discussions of the governance of Britain make compelling reading. Just as we thought the Domesday Book was little more than a tool of Norman oppression, Schama depicts William as "the first database king" bent on achieving equitable enforcement of justice. In later years, Henry II would continue that tradition, ruling medieval Europe's greatest empire. Without delving into tedious detail, Schama makes clear that ruling Britain at any level is a dynamic process. Although the successive monarchs may appear a continuum separated by some violent events, he demonstrates that whoever sat on the throne must perform the task of ruling. The methods may vary, sometimes harshly imposed, but tradition repeatedly impairs the march of change. Anyone failing to understand this will fail to understand Britain.
Rating:
Summary: Racing with rulers
Review: This delightful romp through Britain's history from Roman to Elizabethan times is enchanting reading. Although mis-titled, since Schama dispenses with two millennia in but a few pages, his engrossing prose keeps your attention fixed through every page. He hasn't, of course, given us a "history of Britain" in any but a limited sense. The theme is the governance of a nation with expanding and contracting borders, rulers and those aspiring to rule drifting on and off the stage, and the politics of ruling such a land. The "life" of the country - the tillers, shepherds, artificers, fishermen, are pushed offstage unseen. Not intended as an academic study, it's an entertaining overview. Schama's prose is often evocative. A prime example is his account of the preliminaries leading to the invasion at Hastings and the encounter itself. We witness, almost as participants, the victories and waning of Edward, king of Wessex. His successor, Harold, crosses the reach of England to defeat invading Vikings prior to the rush south to counter William of Normandy. At the battle site, Schama brings you onto the battle site, viewing the impending clash first from the English side, then from the Norman. You sweat and reflect, facing determined enemies prior to the onslaught. He moves you with the troops, thrusting, dodging, suffering as the battle rages. By the time you reach the pages of William's consolidating his victory, you are breathless. Schama is rarely detached from events throughout this book, and he has you at his side at every significant circumstance. His discussions of the governance of Britain make compelling reading. Just as we thought the Domesday Book was little more than a tool of Norman oppression, Schama depicts William as "the first database king" bent on achieving equitable enforcement of justice. In later years, Henry II would continue that tradition, ruling medieval Europe's greatest empire. Without delving into tedious detail, Schama makes clear that ruling Britain at any level is a dynamic process. Although the successive monarchs may appear a continuum separated by some violent events, he demonstrates that whoever sat on the throne must perform the task of ruling. The methods may vary, sometimes harshly imposed, but tradition repeatedly impairs the march of change. Anyone failing to understand this will fail to understand Britain.
Rating: 
Summary: Schama's a Great Tour Guide
Review: This is a review of the 3-set videoization of this book. Schama has pulled off something very difficult, as he synthesizes history and art, with probably more emphasis on history. Churchill tried this in his multi-volume "History of the English Speaking Peoples" and also in the repackaging of that into Churchill's "The Island Race." But Schama does it better in person. Notice, however, that the Bayeux tapestry scenes, and the shots of battle helmets, are also all there in "The Island Race." What is epecially good in these videos is Schama stalking down beaches, or across famous battlefields, with the camera moving, too. Elements of "Blair Witch" here. Also Led Zeppelin (which could be to say Tolkein) album-cover elements in the recurrent images of stone monoliths and pillars of flame, which break up chapters and eras in this history (but which also serve to tie it together). If Schama could do the same to bring to life his "Embarrassment of Riches," I'd buy it. I made my 9 year old daughter watch these over a few nights in lieu of cartoons on cable. She did stay with them, but reverted immediately to "Invader Zim" when given the chance. So, yawn, these are a little bit geared to mature audiences, or at least those who, like me, really do want to know if the arrow hit Harold in the eye at the Battle of Hastings, or perhaps in the head. The brutality of English history comes out clearly here, perhaps impugning the claim that English history has been some sort of island of stability. Maybe compared to the contemporary alternatives.
Rating:
Summary: Back to real history
Review: This is history as it should be: written with wit and perception. His telling phrases convey meaning - even with anacronisms slipping in occasionally! It does what an overview should do - it drives you to read more. It sweeps over thousands of years and picks out key turning points and explains them. Schama puts the 'story' back into history. A welcome addition to any non-specialist's bookshelf who wants a knowledge of the period with an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Popular History Based on the TV Series
Review: This is popular history for those who know little but those who know a great deal will also find it enjoyable. Sure, it is a coffee table book, but so what? I loved it as I loved the two other volumes. It would also make a nice gift for anyone interested in British history. So what if they know everything? They can look at the pictures.
Rating:
Summary: Popular History Based on the TV Series
Review: This is popular history for those who know little but those who know a great deal will also find it enjoyable. Sure, it is a coffee table book, but so what? I loved it as I loved the two other volumes. It would also make a nice gift for anyone interested in British history. So what if they know everything? They can look at the pictures.
| 
