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What do you get when you combine the resources and ethos of the BBC with the literary panache of one of the world's best narrative historians? The answer is Simon Schama's History of Britain television series. In this well-written and thoughtfully crafted survey, Schama, the bestselling author of books on European cultural history such as The Embarrassment of Riches and Citizens, has managed to be both conventional and provocative. He tells the official version of Britain's story--Roman Britain, the Norman Conquest, the struggles of the Henrys and Richards, Elizabeth I, Scottish rebellions and the English Civil Wars, the American Revolution, the growth of the British Empire, Queen Victoria, the industrial age, and Winston Churchill. But while sticking to a script familiar to anyone who sat up and listened during history class, Schama brings it all alive with memorable prose and presence--Simon de Montfort's rebel parliament is described as inaugurating the "union between patriotism and insubordination"; with Henry VIII, Schama says, "you could practically smell the testosterone." Schama is also particularly enlightening on the symbolism of buildings, memorials, language, and ceremonies, and on the complex relations between England and its Celtic and Catholic neighbors. If history must have gloss, then let it be presented like this. --Miles Taylor
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By JR Pinto
Format:DVD
A History of Britain is a wonderful but pricey treat for any fan of British history. Some of the negative reviews complain that it is too superficial. How, I would ask, can you give a COMPLETE history of a country that spans 5,000 years? The collection consists of 15 hour-long documentaries starting from Britain's earliest past, five-thousand years ago. We see the still-standing stone communities where the ancient British dwelled.
Of course, Simon Schama must be selective in what he chooses to discuss. Each episode has a theme. Although all the major points of British history are touched upon, Schama will focus on the most interesting bits of each event - how and why they happened and what they meant. He tries to give us a sense of reasons behind historical events and not just dates and places. My favorite episode deals with Henry II - arguably England's greatest and most under-appreciated monarch. We see his troubles with Thomas a Beckett. Schama re-creates, in vivid detail, what the "Murder in the Cathedral" was like: Beckett was not a plaster saint, but a street-wise tough kid from the wrong side of the docks who fearlessly faced down his murderers.
Visually, the series shows some re-enactments with actors. There are many voice-over readings of historical documents. Schama is the only featured performer. He takes you to the various places and narrates in a very distinctive, clipped manner of speaking. Ultimately, it is the shots of the timeless Britain that are the most effective - the hills, the meadows, and especially the sea. These are the bits that have remained the same and convey the greatest feeling of history.
I can't imagine anybody not being fascinated by this program. They are very re-watchable. Having examined them, you will feel a much deeper understanding of British history - and indeed world history. Perhaps no other country has a story as fascinating, as rich, or as varied as Britain's. Watch this and you will know why.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By J Laraman
Format:DVD
The history of Britain is great for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the last two thousand years of British history. Brian Schama is entertaining and reasonably thorough in his approach. Only complaint is that there a somewhat strong reliance on pictures, artifacts and scenic locales. Most likely all that can be done when you are dealing with historical data unless there were re-enactments which is not the focus of this material.
Overall if you want a better understanding of British history in chronological order - this is it.
Overall if you want a better understanding of British history in chronological order - this is it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Rene
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Schama is an amasing historian. He starts with the history of Britain 3000 BC and after 2 DVDs we are only at the 13th century AD. The presentations are extremely dense and requires all your attention...What is interesting is to learn what a nation of warriors these british were....the fighting was obviously brutal sometimes against external armies sometimes internal ennemies.
Don't watch Schama after dinner, watch and learn a lot on Britain before dinner and preferably before cocktails. Another comment you can only absorb the material presented in small doses. I am therefore anxious to watch the remaining DVDs.
Schama has my admiration because he is presenting the history of Britain, as it did happen, without any bias. Although he is very british he has developed that superb technique of keeping you focused on the topic.
Rene Tinawi
Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering
Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal
Don't watch Schama after dinner, watch and learn a lot on Britain before dinner and preferably before cocktails. Another comment you can only absorb the material presented in small doses. I am therefore anxious to watch the remaining DVDs.
Schama has my admiration because he is presenting the history of Britain, as it did happen, without any bias. Although he is very british he has developed that superb technique of keeping you focused on the topic.
Rene Tinawi
Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering
Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal
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4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A History of Britain
D.V.D. was a gift for a friend who is struggling to master a good working knowledge of The United Kingdom and this product turned out very well and filled the bill... Read more
Published 10 months ago by purdy44
5.0 out of 5 stars
A History of Britain
A History of Britain: The Complete Collection
A fasinating account in dramatic fashion, of a powerful nation's past. Read more
A fasinating account in dramatic fashion, of a powerful nation's past. Read more
Published on May 8 2009 by Allan Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent tour through time
A great series. I bought this after thoroughly enjoying Schama's "Power of Art". I wasn't disappointed. Read more
Published on Mar 4 2009 by M. Anstey
1.0 out of 5 stars
English History as only The English can tell it.
Like others, I was hoping that I had found a definitive, unbiased and honest history of Britain here. Read more
Published on May 3 2005 by R. McMullen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good, covers a lot of ground.
I really don't understand the one-star reviews and their complaints about the series. Saying that the series focused on the gory details and sex is a plain exageration. Read more
Published on July 5 2004 by Javier Bouzas
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very Disappointing
With anticipated glee, we bought this DVD series as a Christmas gift for our family; however, as we went through each of the 5 DVD's, we became increasingly disappointed in... Read more
Published on Jun 25 2004 by Barry Burrus
2.0 out of 5 stars
A rather uninteresting and pretentious overview of Britain
I purchased this series with high hopes and I found viewing it to be very disappointing. The host was annoying the images added nothing to the presentation and there was way too... Read more
Published on Jun 7 2004 by Maureen Ogorman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worthy effort but not the last word. Leaves much out.
Although I still enjoyed this presentation, I must confess I was somewhat disappointed in it too. Some monarchs are overdone by Mr. Read more
Published on Feb 2 2004 by Jeff A. Dietrich
2.0 out of 5 stars
Superficial.
It is not about Britain but about Simon Schama [however the last hour of Volume 5 is interesting]. If you still have some doubts: just compare this documentary with Mark Twain by... Read more
Published on Jan 23 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and entertaining history
This may be the most interesting history series I've ever seen. As a whole, I was more captivated by the earlier history than the more recent. Read more
Published on Jan 8 2004 by Sven F. Pride
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