A History of Britain: Volume 2

By: Simon Schama

Narrated by: Stephen Thorne

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.

©2012 Simon Schama (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Amazing!!!

This is the best book of the three, even though it only encompasses less than two hundred years.

British Civil Wars

This volume focuses on a much shorter time period, just under 175 years, short even when you consider that there was less data to draw on for the earlier era. But, this was the era where the foundations of much of the modern United Kingdom were laid as England and Scotland were brought together, at least in some form and after much struggle, the basis of the global empire was established and Ireland was brought into a stronger alignment but with many of the seeds that would bedevil its future planted at this time.  

Schama indeed spends a great deal of time on the Union in the 17th century but his insight shows how, in his words, ‘‘The obsession with ‘union’ and ‘uniformity’ that consumed both James and Charles I turned out to guarantee hatred and schism”. He builds a strong case to show how relations between Scotland and England were a crucial catalyst for the internal wars during this time and even how the religious part of the struggle was not just a struggle between Protestant and Catholic, but also between the established church (the Anglican Church of England) and the very strict Calvinist Presbyterians in Scotland. 

This was a time when the printed press began to become important politically, and Schama details how it became such a tool for information and propaganda, for good and for ill.

For an American, it was interesting to read about the American revolution from the other side of the Atlantic and in this, I felt Schama’s perspective was balanced and objective. But, what was really special was how he dealt with the empire. He doesn’t dwell on the evils of colonialism in the abstract nor the glories of the world’s greatest empire on which the sun never set. Instead, he just paints a picture of the basic paradox of a people who prided themselves on their freedom but who can then take that freedom away from others for the wealth that they can provide, both in the earlier enslavement of Africans, but even longer term in the political enslavement of whole nations. He states, “It was the condition of the empire’s success, its original sin; a stain that no amount of righteous self-congratulation at its eventual abolition can altogether wash away,” and raises the question, “Was its military power to be used to strengthen or to weaken the native government they claimed to be ‘assisting’?”

It is fitting that this volume then ends with the loss of what could have become its most profitable colony, one that would have occupied almost the entire North American continent. If anything, I liked this one even better than his first.

From Elizabeth I to British India

Loved the narrative and narrator's performance. Book flowed well I enjoyed this volume. Excellent book.

Breaks it down

It’s starts off a little slow, but this book says it all by background, the death (suicide), and the actual digging for the information. Sadly the son is no longer with us. Drug addiction is something a lot of us can relate too. What he did, by sharing and learning, gave us this book. Definitely recommend. Great book. Well written and narrator was excellent!

Excellent

Schama is my favorite kind of historian: he takes his time, pays attention to context, has a clearly firm grasp of the facts, and (best of all in my opinion) is very good writer. I first came across him with his book Landscape and Memory (history/art history/geographical history), and his History of Britain is a splendid addition to his body of work.
Make no mistake. This book, along with the other two volumes, is LONG; the first and second volumes clock in at 40 hours. It will take a lot of listening to get through. But I’m of the opinion that it is absolutely worth it. He obviously puts way more time into the post-Elizabethan period, and the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming.
If you’re willing to put the time in however (I’d recommend while doing labor or housework, or something along those lines) and you want a proper history of Britain with an emphasis on England, listen to these books. Absolutely fascinating narrative history, with plenty of first hand sources.

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.

A very detailed history of Great British history

Like volume 1 volume 2 is so incredibly detailed I really enjoyed it.
A very smooth running adventure. Did not feel likde history.

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.

wonderful

I absolutely loved this work. It made me smile, laugh and cry. A truly wonderfull work!!

Wonderful

A very good overall history. The author covers the events with an eye for facts and avoids the usual cliches. I will be looking for more of his work.