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A History of Britain: Volume 2
- Narrated by: Stephen Thorne
- Length: 20 hrs and 38 mins
- Categories: History, Europe
Non-member price: $34.34
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Publisher's Summary
Timothy West reads the second volume of Simon Schama's compelling chronicle of the British Isles.
The British wars began on the morning of 23 July 1637, heralding 200 years of battles. Most were driven by religious or political conviction, as Republicans and Royalists, Catholics and Protestants, Tories and Whigs, and colonialists and natives vied for supremacy. Of the battles not fought on home territory, many took place across Europe, America, India, and also at sea.
Schama's examination of this turbulent period reveals how the British people eventually united in imperial enterprise, forming 'Britannia Incorporated'. The story of that change evokes the memory of such enduringly influential people as Oliver Cromwell, as well as lesser known but equally extraordinary individuals. A story of revolution and reaction, progress and catastrophe, this is a vivid account of two centuries which changed Britain.
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What listeners say about A History of Britain: Volume 2
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Douglas
- 17-02-2014
A solid second volume
This 2nd volume was interesting and entertaining just as the 1st volume was. After having read all 3 volumes in the series, this is the edition that I'll remember the least. Certainly the end of the first volume blends together with this volume. The subtitle for this volume is "The British Wars" but that seems inapt. It's not as though the 2nd volume is entirely or even mostly a war history. The most interesting part of this volume was the retelling of the Great Fire of London. As I mentioned in my review of the first volume, it helps to be well acquainted with British history and even European history when reading this book. For example, if you aren't familiar with things like the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburgs it's going to get confusing.
3 people found this helpful
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- Brandon Click
- 06-02-2015
Amazing!!!
This is the best book of the three, even though it only encompasses less than two hundred years.
1 person found this helpful
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- Sharon Schafer Bennett
- 31-01-2013
Entertaining and Mind Broadening
This new history of Britain incorporates new knowledge and the new insights gleaned from the study of "ordinary" people and how the great events of history impact them as well as the principals involved. It was narrated very well, and was easy to follow. I am looking forward to listening to Volume 3.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kimberly Hammack
- 08-03-2017
wonderful
I absolutely loved this work. It made me smile, laugh and cry. A truly wonderfull work!!
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- Anonymous User
- 09-10-2018
SAD
This book should be titled schamas moral opinion on the history of Britain. Extremely tiring.
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- Roderic
- 12-11-2014
Excellent, engaging but lots to remember
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. It gives an excellent analysis of British history. It is, however, a lot to take in.
Any additional comments?
When I stopped listening for a few days or weeks it was hard to regain the context, but it was worth the effort.
11 people found this helpful
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- Hannah
- 01-10-2017
Lessons can be learned from rhis
Why do I get the feeling that most of the brilliantly trenchant observations in this book couldn’t ever have been made by any of the awful shower we have in Parliament now?
7 people found this helpful
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- Kyle Smith
- 18-01-2016
Excellent until 1700, slightly meanders after
Continues the basic structure of the first part, with more consistent depth given to the 17th century. Simon goes on in the 18th century to go rather off track at times, but not terribly or unbearably so. Still a very good book, like its predecessor.
6 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-05-2015
The civil wars, Britain and the wrong empire
The second of Schama's trilogy on Britain covers in most detail the English civil wars, Commonwealth, the protectorate and the Restoration., The British in America and India are given less space but new insights and understanding make this fascinating throughout.
5 people found this helpful
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- Peter Evans
- 13-04-2013
Good history lesson
Like all history it depends on who's side you are on. This does quite well at sticking to facts (I do not now how you can confirm this) and keeping all roud perspective.
7 people found this helpful
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- KE
- 08-12-2015
You couldn't make it up
Brilliant summary of this fascinating period that gets relatively little coverage. If you thought that Britain was a nation of couch potatoes with no political enthusiasm never mind revolutionary tendencies ... Think again!
Excellent balance between royal and commoner focus. Exciting could not turn off. Narrator quite good. Crocuses on a much shorter time span than part 1 and all the better for it. History truly brought to life.
5 people found this helpful
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- Andy T
- 04-01-2021
Some fascinating updates to conventional British history
Spanning what looked like a relatively narrow swathe of history (the previous volume dealt with 4,500 years...) this takes the reader from the antiquity of siege engines and the civil war to the end of the British America and the plunder of India. I, for one, had basked in the glorious history of brave Britons, passing on civilization to the less fortunate around the world; Simon Schama did a good job of educating me in what it meant to be a slave of Britons in the Caribbean; or to have your wealth carried off from India to London. And yet, this felt like an even-handed, fair telling of our history, warts and all. Great job to the author - whose wide learning impressed me hugely - and to the reader.
1 person found this helpful
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- John Forrester
- 29-04-2015
Best Audiobook Ever
What did you like most about A History of Britain: Volume 2?
In depth knowledge of one of the most important periods of this great country.and how we became united under one United Kingdom!
Who was your favorite character and why?
King William prince of Orange. His role in the UK and history is still celebrated today even after 300 years, incredible.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
The uniting of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England together. Set on course to have the biggest empire in the world, ever!
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
British and Proud
Any additional comments?
Great work by Simon Schama looking forward to volume 3
7 people found this helpful
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- Colin Mantripp
- 27-02-2021
History of Britain
Really enjoyed it, rather slow to start but riveting as it progressed, well worth listening to, I will listen again
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- Anonymous User
- 07-01-2021
Lively and Turbulent Times
This is a detailed presentation of a very turbulent time. Schama is particularly good on Oliver Cromwell who he effectively suggests would be tried today as a war criminal for his slaughter in Droheda, Ireland. The narrator was good but I would have liked Schama to have done, but perhaps 50 hours was too big a task.
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