A History of Britain by Simon Schama

A History of Britain by Simon Schama

The story of Britain from the earliest settlements in 3000 BC to the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. To look back at the past is to understand the present. In this vivid account of over 4,000 years of British history, Simon Schama takes us on an epic journey which encompasses the very beginnings of the nation's identity, when the first settlers landed on Orkney.

From the successes and failures of the monarchy to the daily life of a Roman soldier stationed on Hadrian's Wall, Schama gives a vivid, fascinating account of the many different stories and struggles that lie behind the growth of our island nation. Simon Schama's major BBC2 series has shown him to be one of our most original and exciting historians.

Simon Schama is a Columbia University professor of history and art history and the author of numerous works, including Rough Crossings, which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction, and The Embarrassment of Wealth. He writes on politics and culture for the Financial Times and has written and presented over fifty documentaries for the BBC, PBS, and the History Channel, including The Power of Art, which won the 2007 International Emmy for Outstanding Arts Programming.