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zaggeta's review against another edition
4.0
An illuminating broad look at the history of the English, filled with unique analysis that has changed the way I think about English and world history. Rather than a blow-by-blow timeline of English history, treat this like a massive thesis, analysing the spirit of the English people, what makes them tick, and how they came to such prominence.
What this means is that while you may enjoy the intense detail that Johnson explores some topics (like Cromwell and Elizabeth), he neglects other aspects (like Victoria).
I found Johnson's modern analysis a slightly less engaging than his pre-19th century analysis, but this may due to my extensive reading of the era coming into contest with his analysis. Don't get me wrong. In general, I agreed with him and really enjoyed a lot of his findings. In fact, I will be discussing them as my own views at conferences in the years to come. But in a way, his modern analysis risks becoming too personal the closer he comes to modern England (the 70s at the time).
Overall, a great book and one I will advise to readers who already have a rudimentary and intermediate knowledge of English history, as this is not an introductory text.
What this means is that while you may enjoy the intense detail that Johnson explores some topics (like Cromwell and Elizabeth), he neglects other aspects (like Victoria).
I found Johnson's modern analysis a slightly less engaging than his pre-19th century analysis, but this may due to my extensive reading of the era coming into contest with his analysis. Don't get me wrong. In general, I agreed with him and really enjoyed a lot of his findings. In fact, I will be discussing them as my own views at conferences in the years to come. But in a way, his modern analysis risks becoming too personal the closer he comes to modern England (the 70s at the time).
Overall, a great book and one I will advise to readers who already have a rudimentary and intermediate knowledge of English history, as this is not an introductory text.
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