The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Book Description

This is the most authoritative account ever published of that most envied of British institutions: the monarchy. With over 400 illustrations - no less than one third of them in colour - it tells the full story of the monarchy, presenting a vivid picture not only of the lives of individual kings and queens, but also of the monarchy as a political and social force from Anglo-Saxon times to the present. The story begins in the fifth century; progressing through the Dark Ages, Ralph Griffiths describes the emergence of recognizable kingdoms in Scotland, Wales, and England. He then goes on to discuss the continental role of English monarchs from William the Conqueror to King John, and the refocusing of royal power in Britain from the thirteenth century with the extension of English rule to Wales, the consolidation of the Scottish kingdom, and the forging of a new relationship between monarch and nation. He also explains the way in which key traditions evolved, including the right of succession, coronations and marriages, oaths of loyalty and military service, the granting of lands and titles, and the propagation of a powerful image of royalty. John Cannon takes up the story from the reign of Henry VIII, and continues the exploration of these crucial themes. Guiding the reader through the governing monarchy of the Tudors and Stuarts and the changes that followed the loss of the throne in the Civil Wars, he goes on to look at the Hanoverians and the combination of personal rule and government by Parliament. Finally, he describes the emergence of the constitutional role of the crown in Queen Victoria's reign, and the enduring basis this has bestowed upon today's popular symbolic monarchy. Alongside this colourful and eventful tale of power and government, the book also looks at the many ways in which our social and cultural history has been shaped by monarchs and the image of royalty - as landowners, builders, sportsmen and women, patrons of the arts, and as the focus of court life, whether idealized or profane. The main account is interspersed with individual panels which focus in vivid detail on each monarch and on key general themes, such as the peerage, chivalry, and coronation rituals. The book is lavishly illustrated throughout, and the text is accompanied by a comprehensive body of reference material, including colour maps, an illustrated section on royal residences and tombs, a consolidated list of monarchs, genealogies, suggestions for further reading, and a full index.

Customer Reviews:

Maybe the best book of its kind on the market.......2005-07-08

The history of Great Britain since the 5th century is largely the history of its sovereigns, and vice versa, and this fat volume is a success on both scores. Beginning with the early Celtic kings who brought some form of organization to early British (and Welsh and Irish) society, Cannon escorts the reader through the island's history, reign by reign, from Rædwald of the East Angles to Elizabeth II, tracing the waxing and waning of the monarch's personal power, noting royal marriages and interments, wars and treaties, glorious victories and humiliating failures. A great deal of the personal is included along with the politics, as when the young Edward VI coolly notes the execution in 1552 of his uncle, the Duke of Somerset, and the exasperated Queen Anne's attempts in 1703 to reason with her Whig ministers. The numerous illustrations, many in color, add to the flavor of the narrative as well as the reader's understanding. This book may be the only general history of the British monarchy that any student would ever need.

A Royal Collection.......2003-07-10

The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy is a uniquely complete book. This is a book very worthy of Oxford, consisting primarily of chapters on royal and political history generally, interspersed throughout with boxed essays on each monarch, special topics, maps, photographs and paintings.

This book begins with the murky beginnings of royalty in Britain, arising out of the chaos of the post-Roman world. Here we encounter names such as Aethelberht, Raewald, and Hywel Dda -- this book doesn't just concentrate as so many do on the English monarchies, but also on Welsh and Scottish clans, lines, and kingdoms. Here we find that King Eric Bloodaxe, the Viking King of York was followed not too many years later by Edgar the Peacable, king of Mercia and the Danelaw.

With the inclusion of this extensive pre-Norman section, the book is a must for any British history library. Apart from that, the history is fairly basic -- well written, interesting, but no grand and new insights, more of an encyclopedia writ as an essay rather than articles on particular subjects (for which I am grateful--nothing so disjointed and unsatisfying in many ways as reading an encyclopedia). This however can make looking up topics a bit more difficult, but I've found as I've sought out one piece of information (using the very good index) I find much more (which is always to be desired).

The final sections include chapters on Royal Residences and Tombs, Genealogies, and Lists of Monarchs, including Scottish as well as English monarchs.

This book is filled with little bits of interest--for instance, an example of 17th century propaganda: 'In the absence of newspapers, radio, and television, other means of representing events and influencing opinion assumed greater importance. A pack of cards took as its unconvivial theme Monmouth's rebellion in 1685. The six of clubs shows Monmouth's entry into Lyme Regis; the seven of spades shows the duke's fate; and the five of diamonds that of his followers.' This caption accompanies pictures of playing cards with scenes of hanged or beheaded men, etc. An interesting means of information dissemination.

A very worthy book, perhaps the only royal book a non-historian would ever need; a definite need for any historian or royal watcher.

Thouroughly enjoyable. Scholarly, but highly readable........1999-10-20

This book is a must for those readers interested in the history of the British Monarchy. The authors and editors have masterly created both an historical perspective of the institution as well as a personal viewpoint which is both critical and sentimental. Some may be turned off by the length of this book, but once you begin reading, you'll wonder where the time goes. And the wonderful photographs and illustrations bring their words to life.

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Average customer rating:

Christian propaganda about the Vikings endures to this day.
Fair
be real
A comprehensive, intelligent history of the Vikings

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Scandinavia | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0192854348

Amazon.com

Everyone feared the Vikings during their three centuries of terror, which lasted roughly from the start of the 8th century to the end of the 11th century. They are best remembered as cruel pagan raiders from the frigid north, but their vibrant warrior culture also managed to transform the north Atlantic and much of Russia through trade and settlement. Their seafaring exploits, passed down through the generations in a series of entertaining sagas, led them to Iceland, Greenland, and even North America (which they called "Vinland"). These accomplishments are truly extraordinary, and reveal how a group of people often belittled as cruel brutes actually expanded the frontiers of human knowledge. Peter Sawyer has pulled together a group of accomplished scholars, including Janet L. Nelson and Simon Keynes, to contribute chapters to this attractive, full-color volume. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings contains the very latest information available about the Vikings and their often violent--but always intriguing--ways.

Book Description

Were the Vikings, as contemporary description had it, a 'valiant, wrathful, foreign, purely pagan people' who swept in from the sea to plunder and slaughter? Or in the words of a Manx folksong 'ware-wolves keen in hungry quest', who lived and died by the sea and the sword. Or were they unusually successful merchants, extortionists, and pioneer explorers? This book, by leading international scholars, considers the latest research and presents a compelling picture of the Vikings and their age. Excavations as far apart as Dublin and Newfoundland, York and Kiev, provide fascinating archaeological evidence, expertly interpreted in this extensively illustrated book.

Customer Reviews:

Christian propaganda about the Vikings endures to this day........2004-09-30

'The Nazis adopted Viking imagary therefore the Vikings must be Nazis' - was the person who came up with that howler having a blonde moment at the time?

Apart from that gem, the Vikings:

- Interests' lay more in establishing trade routes rather than looting and pillaging cities.
- Had an intricate and surprisingly sophisticated civilization for their time.
- Were heathens (non-Christians) in a period of time in which the rest of Europe was largely Christianized. This was to change over time; some by peaceful adoption of the new religion, others by torture. Still, much of the negative history of the Norsemen was written by Christian scholars...
- Were strongly family-oriented, believing that their strength came from their heritage and the blood of their ancestors.
- Used an alphabet (called a "futhark") consisting of only 16 letters (a reduction of their ancestors' earlier alphabet of 24 letters.)

To this day, their influences can be felt in the language, arts, and literature of modern-day American culture.

Or are you more comfortable with the 'murderous barbarians' conclusion. If not, buy another book.

Fair.......2003-06-08

This book falls below what I would expect from Oxford (at least the traditional Oxford of yester-year). The pictures are nice as well as a lot of the text. The main problem with this book is the chapter "The Vikings in History and Ledgend." The author of this essay insinuates that those who take pride in their Viking heritage are Nazis. This chapter is full of inappropriate partisan politics and hurts this book. It reads like propoganda straight out of a typical ADL hate tract.
One reader has obviously fallen for this line (see below).
There are far-better books on the Vikings out there. Go for Gwen Jones for a more balanced account.

be real.......2003-03-26

if ya get all romantic thinking about the vikings, just remember that they were the nazis of their day, in terms of senseless destruction and inhumanity.

A comprehensive, intelligent history of the Vikings.......1999-04-07

This is one of the best books on the Vikings I've ever read (and I've read dozens!). With numerous contributors from many universtities, each chapter is written with detailed authority and offers a fresh perspective. The chonology at the back of the book is a bonus feature. My only criticism is that, depspite chapters on exploration to the west (what I consider to be the most important legacy of the Vikings), Sawyer still tends to let the British perspective of victimization by the Vikings dominate the book.

The Illustrated History of Oxford University

Average customer rating:

The Illustrated History of Oxford University

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Europe & Eurasia | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

College Guides | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This richly illustrated book traces the story of Oxford University from its origins in the Middle Ages to the present day. Written by a team of scholars, all authorities in their fields, it spans 800 years of learning and incident to give a uniquely authoritative history of the University for the general reader. Since the Middle Ages, Oxford University's part in learning has always been significant and colourful. Many future leaders of the nation have been educated there. The architecture of the University and colleges has become one of the glories of Europe, and its libraries and museums house a number of major collections. But most importantly, a university must be judged by its attachment to scholarship - a theme which runs throughout this book. Students have been drawn to Oxford from all over the world, and today the University is internationally recognized for its contribution to research, both in the sciences and in the liberal arts. Authoritative, scholarly, and informative, this book captures the richness and diversity of Oxford University, and its contribution to the nation and to the world. In addition to over 200 illustrations, including 24 full-colour plates, specifically chosen to complement the wide-ranging text, there are also 5 maps, a chronology, annotated guides to further reading, and a full index.

The Oxford Illustrated History of Modern Europe (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Average customer rating:

The path to us...

The Oxford Illustrated History of Modern Europe (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0192854267

Amazon.com

In the introduction to the Oxford Illustrated History of Modern Europe, T.C.W. Blanning argues that, in many ways, the essence of modern man is that he is self-consciously dynamic. We are attracted to change--it captures the eye much more than stability. This excellent book reveals much about the things that have changed in Europe since 1789--and, just as importantly, the things that have remained constant. The eleven essays in this collection (written by some of the biggest names in the field of European history, such as Princeton's Harold James, U.C. Berkeley's Martin Jay, and Richard Overy of King's College, London) focus on various aspects of European society, from politics and economics to high culture and social structures, and analyze both the changes and the engines of those changes. In his standout essay on the changing nature of warfare, 1789-1918, Hew Strachan argues that this military modernization cannot simply be explained by new technology and that more emphasis must be placed on changing ideas. Strachan and the other authors for the most part eschew jargon and present an authoritative set of essays complemented by over 240 arresting color and black-and-white illustrations. Many of the chapters would be suitable readings for upper-division history courses, and the thorough index, detailed chronology, and suggestions for further reading would be a great help to students. This book is accessible to the general reader while remaining valuable to the scholar--and is immensely readable to boot. --C.B. Delaney

Book Description

Written by eleven contributors of international standing, this book covers Europe's turbulent history from the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century to the present day. Attractively illustrated with over 200 pictures in colour and black and white, it provides a better understanding of modern Europe, how it came to be what it is, and even where it may be going in the future.

Customer Reviews:

The path to us..........2004-07-15

Blanning's text on the history of modern Europe starts in the last eighteenth century, with the beginning of the French Revolution, often acknowledged by scholars today as a watershed event in the formation of modern Europe. The ramifications of this event led not only to political and military change throughout the continent of Europe (and, by extension of influence, the rest of the world), but also had profound impact on art, literature, music, philosophy, church and all else that comprises European society.

Blanning, a professor of history at Cambridge, provided editorial direction for the text, and also contributed one of the chapters of the book. The topics and chapters are overlapping, sometimes focused upon a particular theme (Warfare in Europe since 1918, by Richard Overy, is one such example) or along broad topical lines (Industrialisation of Modern Europe, 1750-1914, by Clive Trebilcock is representative here).

The first chapter is devoted to politics from the French Revolution to the First World War. John Roberts examines in this chapter politics internal to various nations as well as the foreign relations among the European states, culminating first in the Congress of Vienna after the Napoleonic era, to its final breakdown in the First World War. The changing face of politics across the European continent in terms of increasingly democratic structures and a lessening of royal and aristocratic government is a common theme. These themes are carried forward in essays on the reordering of European society (Pamela Pilbeam), the upheavals during the interwar period (Paul Preston), changes in recent European society (Richard Bessel) and the final, up-to-date analysis by David Reynolds.

Industrialisation and commercialisation are common themes across the history of modern Europe, discussed in different chapters by Clive Trebilcock, T.C.W. Blanning, and Harold James. Their topics are not neatly compartmentalised, and complement each others' texts, as well as the other chapters in the book, quite well. Military themes are also constant across the period, and are addressed in chapters on military modernisation (Hew Strachan), and post-World War I warfare hot and cold (Richard Overy).

Martin Jay contributed a chapter entitled `From Modernism to Post-Modernism'. This chapter looks at issues in art, literature, media and philosophy as well as the impact of the general changes in intellectual history have had on general European society and sensibilities. This chapter more than any other examines the role of artistic and aesthetic disciplines on general society.

Blanning provides a good list for further reading, divided by the chapter headings, and further subdivided by major topics within the chapters. There is a 12-page chronology, beginning with the Estates-General convention in Versailles during the French Revolutionary period, proceeding through major events up to the 1995 inclusion of Austria, Sweden and Finland into the European Union. There are six maps of Europe in the appendix, which show the progression of national boundaries over time. It is often remarkable to look at the maps of Europe over time to see stability in some areas and massive change in others, particularly in the middle of the continent. The index is useful and comprehensive, keyed to all the different chapters.
There are dozens of colour plates scattered throughout the text, and hundreds of black and white photographs and line-art drawings - hardly any page is without an illustration.

Book Description

This lavishly illustrated book presents the most authoritative history of Roman Britain ever published for the general reader. Written by an established expert in the field, the narrative starts before the invasions of Julius Caesar and finishes in the fifth century AD with the end of Roman rule and the subsequent collapse of society in Britain. Based on the latest research, the book examines every aspect of life in Roman Britain, from the first Roman contacts, through the conquest, the Imperial crisis and recovery, to Britain and the world in the fifth century. Separate thematic chapters on the economy, religion and society, and the historical geography of town and country are all seen in the context of the wider Roman world. Over 350 illustrations complement the broad-ranging text. In addition to showing classic examples of Romano-British archaeology, there are a number of illustrations of spectacular recent discoveries, which have never previously been published.

Customer Reviews:

THE BEST ON ROMAN BRITAIN.......2007-09-27

I have a first edition of this book on my shelf, having purchased it shortly after it came out in 1993. In all the ensuing years have never seen anything to surpass it, nor few that even equal it.

The book is "lavishly illustrated" as the dust jacket mentions, that alone doesn't describe the contents which are simply terrific for any book on history and archaeology. Having majored in Anthropology in college, I could not imagine being without this book. It leads directly into some of my other books: of Anglo-Saxon period and into "England under the Norman and Angevin Kings 1075-1225. All Oxford books, too.

Though the book is now some 14 years of age and has been updated, it is still something to behold and browse. And as an oversize book you know you have something in hand as you work with it.

Peter Salway is an excellent writer and with 24 color plates and over 320 other illustrations the era of the Romans in Britain is well covered.

Semper Fi.

THE Introduction/Reference to own on Roman Britain.......2006-07-15

If you are looking for a single book on the history of Roman Britain, this is the book that you want. The author, Peter Salway, is one of the most prominent historians of this epoch, and wrote the updated first volume of the Oxford History of England that replaced Collingwood's classic in this series. There is a wealth of information in this book, Salway traces the history of Roman Britain from Caeser's initial aborted invasion to the collapse of the Roman Empire five centuries laters. This is partly a traditional history that summarized events, places, and people, but Salway also discusses cultural, religious, and societal trends as well. In addition, this volume contains hundreds of photos (many in color), maps, line drawings of archeaological digs, and prints of tapestries and mosaics. This book lies somewhere between a purely scholarly work and a popular work, probably closer to the scholarly side. A magesterial work, but a little less dense and more approachable than Salway's `Roman Britain'. For any true student of the era, this is a must have, and for someone with even a passing interest I would still highly recommend this book. A fine addition to any collection.

The Oxford Illustrated History of Italy (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Average customer rating:

blah...
Pathetic Oxford. Very Pathetic
the "volk" at oxford have "done it" again...although this time less vigorously
Beautiful illustrations & essays on history and culture
Separate Essays create confusion

The Oxford Illustrated History of Italy (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0192854445

Amazon.com

George Holmes's well-written, heavily illustrated narrative offers a broad view of Italian history from the early days of the Roman empire to the beginning of the 1990s. Italy as we know it, Holmes notes, is a fairly modern invention, the product of the 19th-century Risorgimiento and the unification of the nation for the first time in centuries. He explores the reasons for this, noting the tendency of Italian regions to turn inward and form small alliances with immediate neighbors, a tendency that expresses itself today in the northern Italian movement for secession. Holmes also considers the role of the arts in the formation of Italian identity and provides snapshots of major points in the nation's history. It all makes for a useful one-volume reference.

Book Description

From the Roman Empire to the present day, this is the story of Italy. Until just over a century ago, Italy did not exist as a political unit, yet it was both the heart of the Christian Church and the seedbed for the extraordinary cultural flowering that was the Renaissance. In the middle ages, the merchants of Florence, Genoa, and Venice bridged Asia and Europe with their trading and financial activities, yet Italy remained a region of fiercely independent city-states. In the nineteenth century an upsurge of nationalist fervour was channelled by Garibaldi into a victorious war against Italy's Habsburg overlords. A political vision was finally realized and the nation of Italy was created. This extensively illustrated survey by twelve leading historians offers a fascinating introduction to the history and culture of Italy.

Customer Reviews:

blah..........2007-08-04

This book was terrible. More time is spent giving you an onslaught of facts on the history of Italian art than on anything else. The cultural portion barely acknowledges literary and philosophical greats but doesn't hesitate to regurgitate information several times on painters, architects, and musicians. Despite this, upon completion your left wondering exactly what you just read due to the rambled facts given.
On the political side of things, your left with a vague picture. If not for prior knowledge of Italian history and living there for two years, i would have finished the book learning completely nothing. This is another example of one of those books written by scholars for scholars but failed to be advertised as such. These scholars do seem to know there facts, however the fact is they have no skill at writing, any read will find it an unending struggle to keep their mind from wandering, their eyes from tearing, or the onset of sleep from coming. For the length of time it takes to read these dry monotonous 347 pages, you could have read several books on the subject. Oxford, George Holmes... i think you need to reimburse me not only for the money i spent on this garbage but for the many hours wasted drudging through it that i will never get back.

Pathetic Oxford. Very Pathetic.......2006-12-20

This is the worst attempt by the people at Oxford. I am a big fan of all of their books and series but this one needs to be redone. The writing by all of the authors is terrible and no detail is given. While it is tough to cover the whole history of the country in one book this one fails miserably. Not only do you not even get a sense of how Italy developed you is left wondering what the point was. It does not leave you wanting more information in a good way but just disappoints. Stay away!

the "volk" at oxford have "done it" again...although this time less vigorously.......2006-04-02

The first essay begins with an obscure reference to a former pupil who, "in those few fleeting moments of ecstacy during my office hours instilled in me enormous feelings of guilt because so much blood rushed from my neo-cortex in her presence that I knew then I would change my academic specialty from Etruscan Art in Etruria to Etruria and its Etruscan Art" and then concludes with, of all things, a clarion call for Anschluss with Canada. Strange. The essay on Mussolini was brilliant, hampered only by the author's insistent mis-spelling of Mussolini's first name ("Young 'Bonero' earned early for himself a reputation as a pugnacious little turd, although he was an above average speller!")

A weird book from the weirdos at Oxford. They've done it again! I only wish I could do it again. Just once.

Beautiful illustrations & essays on history and culture.......2005-05-11

This book is a collection of essays on aspects of the history of Italy and the cultural changes in different periods from the Rome of Augustus through the last essay on "Italy Since 1945". While this is not a narrative history, it does provide an essay on the historical highlights of each period as well as a second essay on important cultural aspects of that time.

The essays are quite informative, and though they are written by specialists, they are written for the general reader. Obviously, the more experience you have with the history of Europe the easier this book will read. However, I did not find anything arcane or overly specialized. And I found the emphasis on culture refreshing and particularly appropriate for the true influence Italy has had on our modern world. This book will help you see how much the influence of Rome and later the Roman Church has had and continues to have on our culture. The art and architectural achievements of Italian artists and those of other nations influenced by Italian aesthetics are still quite alive in our present world.

There are a few dozen beautiful color plates and over a hundred black and white photographs and illustrations. The maps are particularly interesting. Watching the state grow from a bunch of Roman provinces to a unified Italy is quite interesting. There is also a list of sources for further reading, a chronology of the centuries covered by this book as well as a list of sources for the illustrations included. There is also a helpful index.

Separate Essays create confusion.......2004-01-13

I was very disappointed with this book, because it is
a compilation of scholarly articles all written in
a verbose convoluted style. The articles do not flow smoothly
and the book is not to be read as a history flowing from one chapter to another. I do not feel this is a useful history of Italy. It is not an easily understood survey, and the writings expect too much previous knowledge of the history of Italy to be appealing to a beginning reader.

The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Average customer rating:

Does not serve as a useful introduction
The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England.

The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0192893246

Book Description

This richly illustrated book provides a comprehensive introduction to medieval England. Written by expert scholars and drawing on the latest research, it offers an authoritative survey of the years from the departure of the Roman legions to the Battle of Bosworth. The middle ages were a time of profound diversity and change. The main political themes are explored in three narrative chapters, covering the Anglo-Saxon period, the Normans and Angevins, and the late middle ages. Chapters on the social, cultural, and religious life of the period add context to the political and institutional developments traced and cover topics as varied as the nature of national identity, urban life, art and architecture, religious practice, and the development of vernacular literature. 180 illustrations, maps, family trees, a chronology, guide to further reading, and a full index make this an indispensable guide to England in the middle ages.

Customer Reviews:

Does not serve as a useful introduction.......2005-11-26

I begin reading this because I wanted a clear, concise and short introduction to the history of medieval England. While it is short, it is not very clear or concise. The author's stilted writing is replete with insider information. Basic concepts and terms are not explained, an absolute must for an introduction to medieval history. To be fair to the author, synthesizing fragmented, biased and oftentimes fictional textual information with archaeology and other social science research is quite difficult. I am disapponted nevertheless, and will get my introduction to medieval England from elsewhere.

The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England........2002-12-26

This is a well constructed book which contains much valuable and interesting information together with an excellent selection of illustrations.

Book Description

The Tudor and Stuart centuries are among the most dramatic in the history of the British Isles. From Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon to Charles I's beheading and the Glorious Revolution that sent James II ignominiously into exile, radical solutions were found to old problems - with far-reaching effects on monarchy, state, and people alike. These centuries witnessed the Reformation, the civil wars, and two Revolutions, in which two monarchs, two wives of a king, and two archbishops of Canterbury were tried and executed, and hundreds of men and women tortured and burned in the name of religion. Yet in the same period an explosion of literacy and the printed word, transformations in landscapes and townscapes, new forms of wealth, new structures of power, and new forms of political participation freed minds and broadened horizons. It was an age which marked Britain's emergence as the most liberal and mature of European states. The Oxford Illustrated History of Tudor and Stuart Britain now chronicles and analyses all these events. Written by eighteen leading scholars, this exciting and richly illustrated work explores the political, religious, and cultural history of the period. It covers every aspect of this tumultuous age, from the manoeuvrings of rulers and power-brokers, to the profound social changes that affected the lives of ordinary men and women throughout Britain. Over 200 black and white illustrations and 24 pages of colour plates complement all aspects of the text, and the volume also contains a chronology and glossary together with maps and family trees of the monarchy. Contributors... Simon Adams, University of Strathclyde John Adamson, University of Cambridge Christopher Brooks, University of Durham Steven Ellis, University College, Galway Amy Louise Erickson, University of Sussex Mark Goldie, University of Cambridge Andrew Gurr, University of Reading John Guy, University of St Andrews Christopher Haigh, University of Oxford Wallace MacCaffrey, Harvard University John Morrill (ed.), University of Cambridge Diarmaid MacCulloch, University of Oxford Rosemary O'Day, Open University John Reeve, University of Sydney Conrad Russell, University of London Kevin Sharpe, University of Southampton John Walter, University of Essex Thomas Webster, University of East Anglia

The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain

Average customer rating:

No Axe Grinding and Poor Organization, Thank You.
Decline and Fall
Sketchy
Mismash of uneven writing
Mismash of uneven writing

The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0198226845

Book Description

"It belongs on every student's desk, in every library's catalogue...wherever readers have a real curiosity to discover, in words and pictures, the current state of historical inquiry in the field of British history, from the Romans to Thatcher"--Peter Clarke, History Today. In this beautifully illustrated volume, ten leading historians encompass political, social, economic, and cultural developments throughout the British isles over the last 2,000 years.

Customer Reviews:

No Axe Grinding and Poor Organization, Thank You........2007-06-25

I set out to read this with anticipation. After all it came recommended and is put out by Oxford University Press. But this book was a big disappointment.

I had trouble keeping track of the threads and the plots as I read. Eventually, I figured out the fault is not all mine. There's no getting around it -- the book is poorly organized. I felt like I was trying to decipher an overly complicated but sloppily written soap opera upon watching it for the first time.

In addition, it engages in blatant axe-grinding. I'm still shaking my head over it calling Edward VI "the boy bigot." That opened my eyes to axe-grinding elsewhere in the book. That added a lack of credibility to its lack of organization.

So this is one book I won't bother to finish.

Decline and Fall.......2007-01-07

Few of us would deny that, among countless other things, Britain, that small and infinite island, has given us some of the world's greatest historians: Gibbon, Macaulay, Trevelyan... All of them writers who possessed impressive conviction, a masterful prose style, an all-embracive mind, a sharp wit, and an idiosyncratic genius. Certainly, Britain's history is not less fascinating that its historians: its course has greatly influenced (and, sometimes, dictated) the rest of the world's affairs. Like any other part of our past, it also offers a clue to understand our present - maybe even our very essence. Unfortunately, this just makes Oxford's failure to produce a decent one-volume History of Britain all the more frustrating.

Kenneth O. Morgan, the editor, asserts in his foreword that only a multi-author approach can cope with such an extensive subject, since relying purely on one writer would be "neither practicable nor desirable, now that Renaissance men have vanished from the earth." The fact that this book's most glaring deficiencies are due to the very method Morgan so heartily endorses, however, somewhat undermines his assertions. For while it may be true that a vast undertaking like the 15-volume Oxford's History of Britain, for example, would hardly be possible without the collaboration of a selected group of specialists, that same modus operandi is at odds with this book. The main strengths of a one-volume history should not be painstaking detail, but clearness, concision and consistency -something Morgan has sadly neglected. This kind of book should be enlightening and accessible to laymen and undergraduates alike; it is neither.

First of all, each chapter appears to have been written in isolation, as if each author had been blind to the work of the rest: there is frequent overlapping of information, constant change in approach, and, what is worse, scarcely any unifying interpretation of history. This disjointed, choppy method grows wearisome very fast. A single writer would have probably treated every chapter as a part of a whole, and would have therefore arranged and interpreted every event accordingly; there is no such frame or criteria here. The writers fall over themselves jumping back and forth in time to include tidbits of information, destroying the flow of the book, sparing the reader no figure, statistic, or date.

This hints at another huge defect: the astounding incapability throughout to sort the relevant information from the trivial or downright confusing. Crucial events are shrugged off in order to expand on some trifling detail; the big picture is always taken for granted or just forgotten. The Hundred Years' War, for example, is thrown into the background, as if it were pure circumstance, something that happened to affect England by some nebulous reason. When you have only a few hundred pages to explain how and why Britain's history unfolded like it did, cutting it off from the rest of the world does not like a good idea, but that solipsism prevails here. While, for example, six pages are spent explaining, with painstaking detail (various graphs included), England's population growth in the Tudor Age and how it affected market prices, no room is given to the fundamental causes behind both World Wars. They almost materialize into existence, in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it fashion.

If one were to take each chapter individually, these defects would not look so obtrusive; however, this book is definitely less than the sum of its parts. Morgan took quantity over quality, specialized knowledge over lucidity, ten authors (including himself) over a "Renaissance man." In my opinion, genius is not restricted to a bygone era; nor can it be replaced by a ensemble of academicians. Until a more ambitious historian takes up the delightful challenge of relating Britain's past in a approachable, perhaps even memorable way, we will have to go back to Hume, to Macaulay, to Travelyan. It may be that sometimes they were not afraid of subtly changing history to make it fit their viewpoint - but then again, Britain itself has never been afraid of making history either.

Sketchy.......2002-09-26

The book shown above is the hardcover edition. It's also published, without illustrations, in five paperback volumes. I read only THE TUDORS AND STUARTS, which had no illustrations other than two or three maps and graphs. The first half of the book, about the Tudors, was written by one man, and the second half, about the Stuarts, by another. The volume was short, only 142 pages.

This is my favorite period of British history and the one with which I am most familiar, but still, I found the text confusing. I think there were several misplaced lines of type in the second half. Maybe a writer can't do much in 70 pages to elucidate a period, and probably the illustrations would have distracted from the sketchy text. The writing was not lively.

The very last section is called "Intellectual and Religious Life," but it was mostly about religious life. Literature is almost totally ignored throughout the volume. Pepys is never mentioned.

There is no index. Perhaps the complete, one-volume version has an index, and the publisher didn't want to go to the trouble of compiling indexes for the individual volumes. Still, a history book without an index is unthinkable.

On the whole, the book was disappointing.

Mismash of uneven writing.......2001-08-17

I'm a half-educated American, with the vaguest notions of British history. I bought this book hoping to be able to understand the story of the British Isles, in a more or less clear outline. That didn't happen: after 200 pages, I tossed the book, wondering just who it was written for. Here's why I tossed it:

(1) It doesn't have an author. Instead, it has a bunch of authors, each apparently assigned a certain portion of British history to cover. The problem is that none of the authors seem to have consulted each other, nor did the editor seem to edit. On every other page, you see a fact or definition repeated (by a previous author), or a topic referenced (but uncovered by a previous author). History is a messy thing, but it has to be organized to be learned, and any hope of presenting material in terms of themes or movements is lost, because styles and approaches switch radically from author to author, from clear and sparse, to confusing and overly-detailed.

(2) It should have an author. This sounds like point (1), but hear me out: the editor, Mr. Morgan, claims that writing grand history, spanning the length of the British past, just can't be written anymore. It is better, rather, to have specialists write about their specialities. Sounds good in theory, but is just abominable when placed next to comprehensive histories written by single authors. Toynbee and Trevleyan wrote such history earlier. And J. Roberts writes such history now, particularly his History of Europe, and History of the World, two models of lucid historical writing that make this disjointed compilation look like an ill-considered mishmash.

(3) It should have an audience. Or at least a different audience: the average intelligent reader wants a clean, interesting exposition of the important events and currents of the past. While some chapters achieve that, the most seem to be written not to the Average Reader, but to the Rival Colleague. And so we see a few facts casually presented, and then a sudden digression into some piece of scholarly minutae that leaves the reader (me, that is) pexplexed.

(4) It should teach historical knowledge, not assume it. This is one of those histories that assumes from the onset that you know all the relevant history. That might be OK for a narrow scholarly article, but it's an awful presumption for a comprehensive history. I read dozens of pages discussing the 'Domesday Book,' its importance, and its effects. The authors never thought to enlighten the ignorant, and explain what this Domesday Book was (an very old tax survey). Things like this litter every page.

From previous reading, I've learned that good history can be written. From reading this, I've learned that very bad history can be written, too.

Mismash of uneven writing.......2001-08-14

Book Description

Britain is an island nation and throughout history its navy has been of great importance for its defence. As a consequence it has always had a special significance and has over the centuries entrenched itself in the national psyche, making itself manifest not only through the hero-worship of its principal characters such as Horatio Nelson and Sir Francis Drake but also finding expression through art, music, and literature. Like any great national institution, the navy is a complex web of interconnected histories - operational, strategic, political, economic, administrative, technological, and social. Now updated for its paperback edition, The Oxford Illustrated History of the Royal Navy, in a series of fourteen chapters, provides a thorough and engaging treatment of these histories, covering every aspect of naval history from the Anglo-Saxon period to the dawn of the new millennium. The book explores: Major action and campaigns - the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the Battle of Trafalgar, the Battle of Jutland, the Atlantic Campaign of 1939-45, the Falklands conflict, the Gulf War, and attacks on terrorist bases in Afghanistan in 2001. Developments in naval history and technology - navigational advances, surveying, constructional developments, disaster relief, the suppression of the slave trade, and the Strategic Defence Review of 1998. Key personalities - Drake and Nelson, Samuel Pepys, Francis Beaufort, Jackie Fisher, Lord Charles Beresford, Lord Jellicoe. Naval life - recruitment (press gangs, training, education, discipline), tactics, gunnery and armaments, amphibious operations, wages and conditions, victualling and supply. How and when did Britain's perception of the sea change from a thing of fear to a 'moat defence' (in the words of Shakespeare)? How did the navy's administrative systems develop during the Tudor period? During the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, its greatest period of expansion, how did the navy develop strategically and operationally? How successfully did the navy defend the British Empire during the nineteenth century? What role did the navy play in Victorian Britain's thirst for exploring of the world? What technical developments have been important to the navy? What effect did two world wars have on the role of the Royal Navy? What does the modern navy look like now and what about the future? With a full chronology, which has been brought up to date to the end of 2001, an extensive list of further reading, 16 pages of colour plates, 23 maps, 6 special Action Station diagram 'box' features, and around 200 black-and-white integrated illustrations, this is an authoritative and highly readable account of a unique fighting service and its people.

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