Description
Book SynopsisJeremy Black is Professor of History at the University of Exeter, UK, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of America and the West at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, USA. His books include
War: A Short History (2010),
The War of 1812 (2009) and
The Great War and the Making of the Modern World (2009).
Trade ReviewJeremy Black offers here an important and much-needed overview and re-appraisal of British history from the Romans to the present. Whilst dealing with the economic, social and political history of Britain, the underlying theme of this book is the meaning of Britishness and what this means - and has meant - for relations between Britain and the rest of the world and between the nations comprising Britain. The fluid and constantly renegotiated meaning of Britishness is offered in a lively and compelling manner, as the anxieties about identity are examined, re-examined and distilled within the context of 2,000 years of British history. This is a vital , if personal, interpretation of British history and should be read widely by anyone interested in the history of Britain. * Keith Laybourn, Diamond Jubilee Professor of the University of Huddersfield, UK *
This book is a superb account of the sweep of British history from earliest times to the present day. Written by one of Britain’s leading historians, it draws on an unrivalled knowledge and a wealth of scholarship; at the same time it is a highly readable and engaging. The account of British history presented here is a fascinating narrative of a national story without losing the local perspectives. This is history at its best: combining broad themes, formidable controversies and debates, with human details. If you want to read a single book to understand how the past informs the present, this is it. * William Gibson, Professor of History, Oxford Brookes University, UK *
… this thin volume is a fast-paced, balanced survey covering the history of Britain from pre-Roman times to the present. In addition to political history, Black gives equal time to the social, cultural, and economic history of Britain … While the book is understandably heavy on English affairs, Black also discusses events in Scotland and Ireland where appropriate. The prevailing themes of war, unrest, and change illustrated throughout the book confirm that the road to today’s modern, multicultural Britain was indeed an uneven one. The author concludes with a look at the uncertainties facing Britain, including the question of national identity, the effects of mass immigration, and Britain’s relationship with the European Union. General readers and students seeking a concise narrative of British history should look no further.
Summing Up: Highly recommended. Public and undergraduate libraries. -- M. Frasier-Robinson, University of Southern Mississippi * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsPreface 1. Telling the Story 2. The History to 1400 3. Turbulent Times, 1400-1750 4. Britain becomes the World Power, 1750-1900 5. From the Victorians to Today, 1900- 6. Conclusions Selected Further Reading
