jjares reviewed History of England: A Captivating Guide to English History, Starting from Antiquity through the Rule of the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans, and Tudors to the End of World War 2 on + 3278 more book reviews
Over the past year, I've read dozens of Captivating History's very fine history lessons offered in bite-sized pieces. However, this one seemed to be too large a bite to go from pre-history to the end of World War II (even of a single country). I prefer reading an in-depth study of a specific period or event. I think they glossed over a great deal of history to hit the high points.
However, what is offered is great. I was impressed with the prehistory of the Britons. Usually, books don't go back that far and their ancient history is fascinating. The studies by Great Britain archaeologists must be amazing reading.
One thing that I noticed in this book was the fact that the author gave the why of things. For example, Henry VIII wanted to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled, based on the fact that she'd been married to Henry's brother. This book sets the scene so that the pieces fit. I'd heard why Henry wanted to shed himself of Catherine, but this showed just how the original marriage took place and how young Henry VIII married his widowed sister-in-law -- and lived to regret it (after 20 years).
I think this book is accurate about Queen Elizabeth I; she avoided marrying because she knew that she would be moved to the fringes of leadership when a King of England arrived. I think she was her father's daughter and knew she could do as well as anyone else. And she did.
It was interesting to see that there were many English colonies that failed before Jamestown. While Elizabeth tried her hand at English colonies in the New World, she hedged her bets by giving a charter to English trade to establish the East India Company. When her successor, James I sent ship fulls of immigrants to the New World, I did not know that this action alleviated some of the poverty in England. Before reading this, I did not realize what an important contingent of Protestants the Puritans were.
One of the great things Captivating History does is share fascinating snippets of history. In Chapter 17, we learn where the Union Jack came from -- don't miss it. The large number of Americans with Scottish blood in their veins is not so surprising after reading about the Seven Ill Years in Scotland. No wonder so many people emigrated to the New World.
This book also does a great job of explaining Sinn Fein; I'd heard of it many times but not how it got started. The division of Ireland is also explained. In 1918, men over the age of 21 got to vote for the first time; women got the vote if they were 30, or older. I guess that's progress.
From what I've read about Edward VIII in other places (particularly his politics), England was fortunate that he fell in love with Wallis Simpson. He abdicated to his brother, George VI, and eventually became governor of the Bahamas.
However, what is offered is great. I was impressed with the prehistory of the Britons. Usually, books don't go back that far and their ancient history is fascinating. The studies by Great Britain archaeologists must be amazing reading.
One thing that I noticed in this book was the fact that the author gave the why of things. For example, Henry VIII wanted to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled, based on the fact that she'd been married to Henry's brother. This book sets the scene so that the pieces fit. I'd heard why Henry wanted to shed himself of Catherine, but this showed just how the original marriage took place and how young Henry VIII married his widowed sister-in-law -- and lived to regret it (after 20 years).
I think this book is accurate about Queen Elizabeth I; she avoided marrying because she knew that she would be moved to the fringes of leadership when a King of England arrived. I think she was her father's daughter and knew she could do as well as anyone else. And she did.
It was interesting to see that there were many English colonies that failed before Jamestown. While Elizabeth tried her hand at English colonies in the New World, she hedged her bets by giving a charter to English trade to establish the East India Company. When her successor, James I sent ship fulls of immigrants to the New World, I did not know that this action alleviated some of the poverty in England. Before reading this, I did not realize what an important contingent of Protestants the Puritans were.
One of the great things Captivating History does is share fascinating snippets of history. In Chapter 17, we learn where the Union Jack came from -- don't miss it. The large number of Americans with Scottish blood in their veins is not so surprising after reading about the Seven Ill Years in Scotland. No wonder so many people emigrated to the New World.
This book also does a great job of explaining Sinn Fein; I'd heard of it many times but not how it got started. The division of Ireland is also explained. In 1918, men over the age of 21 got to vote for the first time; women got the vote if they were 30, or older. I guess that's progress.
From what I've read about Edward VIII in other places (particularly his politics), England was fortunate that he fell in love with Wallis Simpson. He abdicated to his brother, George VI, and eventually became governor of the Bahamas.
