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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I am having some problems trying to articulate my feelings on this book. After reading a LOT of historical fiction recently, I felt a craving for some historical non-fiction. I find history extremely interesting, but tire of it quickly. I find my need for a good story leaves me rather unequipped to deal with the gaps in narrative that you often find when learning about actual history. I also am extremely picky about what parts of history interest me more (Sorry late Stuarts and post-second world war), and as such have an extremely patchy and selective understanding of the history of the country I have lived in my entire life.
I wanted this book to act as a catalyst for my re-emerging interest in English history. I liked the idea of it trying to consolidate the entire history of England into under three hundred pages and therefore something digestible.
This book satisfied this need for information; I needed those gaps to be filled. I've always known a lot more about the Kings and Queens of England than the evolution of parliament and various Prime Ministers, but frankly, be-headings, mistresses and usurpers are just more exciting to read about. This book makes some steps to remedying this particular prejudice of mine. The chapters about Thatcher were written in a way that at least attempted to be objective, and this to me was very refreshing, having grown up in part of the country where she is held in bitter contempt; where it is not encouraged to be interested in or to want to learn more about your country's only female prime minister. That being said however, this attempt at objectivity is not always consistent: Jenkins very clearly has his own opinions about various historical figures, Richard III is presented only as a villain, and this was somewhat disappointing when you look forward to his chapter knowing how divisive a character he is. Queen Victoria is barely mentioned, which I also find odd, given how integral she is to English identity and culture.
That being said, there were other chapters that more than made up for it. It can easily be argued as well that if I wanted a biography of my favourite historical figures, I can easily go out and find one. Like most people, I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about the parts of history I didn't already know about, which I think explains why some got more of a starring role over others. A satisfying and extremely readable account, I'd recommend it for anyone who has a passing, yet somewhat fickle interest in English history.
I wanted this book to act as a catalyst for my re-emerging interest in English history. I liked the idea of it trying to consolidate the entire history of England into under three hundred pages and therefore something digestible.
This book satisfied this need for information; I needed those gaps to be filled. I've always known a lot more about the Kings and Queens of England than the evolution of parliament and various Prime Ministers, but frankly, be-headings, mistresses and usurpers are just more exciting to read about. This book makes some steps to remedying this particular prejudice of mine. The chapters about Thatcher were written in a way that at least attempted to be objective, and this to me was very refreshing, having grown up in part of the country where she is held in bitter contempt; where it is not encouraged to be interested in or to want to learn more about your country's only female prime minister. That being said however, this attempt at objectivity is not always consistent: Jenkins very clearly has his own opinions about various historical figures, Richard III is presented only as a villain, and this was somewhat disappointing when you look forward to his chapter knowing how divisive a character he is. Queen Victoria is barely mentioned, which I also find odd, given how integral she is to English identity and culture.
That being said, there were other chapters that more than made up for it. It can easily be argued as well that if I wanted a biography of my favourite historical figures, I can easily go out and find one. Like most people, I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about the parts of history I didn't already know about, which I think explains why some got more of a starring role over others. A satisfying and extremely readable account, I'd recommend it for anyone who has a passing, yet somewhat fickle interest in English history.
A good introduction to England History, but I think that I should not stop there. This book is interesting in a sense that it sets the main milestones but most importantly invites you to learn more and dive further into England's history. Very informative, nicely summered and skilfully written.
A Short History of England is just that: a short - 300 pages - overview of the entire history of England. The book is divided in about 30 chapters consisting of around 10 pages each and focusing on some of the more important occurences in history. Some of the topics that are discussed are Anglo-Saxons, Henry VIII, the Hundred Years' War and the two World Wars.
For me, reading this novel was like going back to college. I had to study the entire history of the Commonwealth as a part of my education to become and English teacher, and this book was pretty much three years worth of study material. What I disliked is the fact that it focused very strongly on the political aspects of history, whereas I'm more interested in the human side of it.
For me, reading this novel was like going back to college. I had to study the entire history of the Commonwealth as a part of my education to become and English teacher, and this book was pretty much three years worth of study material. What I disliked is the fact that it focused very strongly on the political aspects of history, whereas I'm more interested in the human side of it.
I can't really comment on how good this book actually was because it's a proper history, and I don't feel qualified to do so. What I can say is that this wasn't what I was after when I bought it. I thought it was going to have a more oversimplified narrative, and be more fun and less wordy. So of course I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped to.
However, I can now say that I am more briefed in the long story that is English history. It was good to learn about the slow journey towards consensual government and the welfare state, particularly from the perspective of my degree.
Overall, it wasn't very fun to read, but it was definitely still worth my time.
However, I can now say that I am more briefed in the long story that is English history. It was good to learn about the slow journey towards consensual government and the welfare state, particularly from the perspective of my degree.
Overall, it wasn't very fun to read, but it was definitely still worth my time.
All in all a decent work on "basic" english history. Although I must admit that some chapters or periods didn't interest me that much, so I skipped. I guess a good start for someone whos is relatively new to this topic and interested to learn the basics quickly.
Finally Finally finished this book. Only took me a decade!