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Rating: 
Summary: Would love to take a class under Simon Schama
Review: I highly recommend "A History of Britain: At The End of the World?" to anyone, especially those just embarking on a study of the country and its more memorable monarchs and revolutionaries.Of course, in this format Schama cannot possibly go into detail about everything and everyone: he means to hit the high points, and he does so with a detatched eye, a dry wit and a keen method of observation. He tells of the usual suspects - William The Conqueror (also known as William The Bastard), Henry VIII, Henry II and his fatal quarrel with the doomed Archbishop Thomas Becket - but in between these great historic personalities comes the voice of the common man, be he (or she) monk, peasant or serf, commenting on the spread of plague through a devestated village or joining his voice to others to seek satisfaction from Richard II. Others here have commented upon the beauty of the book - its gorgeous pictures, its helpful maps - and I can add nothing except to say that they do add a wonderful visual aspect. The video series of "A History of Britain", as well as the companion books, are well worth anyone's time, whether they are seasoned in British history or just getting interested.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderfully illustrated survey
Review: Let me begin by saying that I think some of the other reviewers expected a bit much. If you are an afficianado of documentaries, you will probably not learn anything new. Descriptions are pretty brief and you may recognize some passages verbatim from your favorite British history specials (which were probably narrated or produced by the author). What else could you possibly expect when trying to cover 5103 years in 416 pages?! That said, what I liked most about this book was the color photos. Almost every other page yielded a glorious plate of illuminated manuscripts, Westminster tombs, crumbling castles,etc. Moreover, these weren't usually the tired old photos one usually associates with "survey" books. Of course, the Hans Holbein portraits of the Tudors and their paramours are included (I don't think you can publish a book on British history without them!) However, so are detailed views of Skara Brae, the tombs of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York in Westminster, etc. You may see photos of places which you have, heretofore, only read about. As for the writing, I found it engaging and easy to read. Mr. Schama hits all the high points from the earliest Neolithic settlements in the Orkneys to Elizabeth I's remarkable reign. I was especially pleased with the way he treated the era of the Black Death, succinctly showing the inter-relatedness of decreased population and general insecurity with the political travails that besieged England beginning in the mid-14th century. The only era which I thought was less than fairly covered (and why this book rates four instead of five stars)was the Wars of the Roses - they got only a brief mention at the end of the King Death chapter. I thought Mr. Schama could have more clearly explained how the monarchy went from Lancastrian Henry VI to whatever-he-was Henry VII. I don't even recall a mention of the children in the tower. All in all, I think this is a wonderful addition to any library. Again, don't think of this as a history or referenece book. Rather, I think it's closer to an uncommonly erudite coffee table book.
Rating:
Summary: A tad sciolistic, but an entertaining read
Review: There are ample names and locations with which to keep up, and Schama does a respectable job at keeping them organized. The insights are valuable, the anecdotes, compelling--and that characteristic British flair for the pithy is pervasive.
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