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  • A History of Britain: Volume 2

  • By: Simon Schama
  • Narrated by: Stephen Thorne
  • Length: 20 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (855 ratings)

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A History of Britain: Volume 2 cover art

A History of Britain: Volume 2

By: Simon Schama
Narrated by: Stephen Thorne
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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.

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

What listeners say about A History of Britain: Volume 2

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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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  • KE
  • 08-12-15

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.

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6 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Insufferable

Couldn't take the narrators accent seriously. English history is easier to digest if not spoken in a private-school drawl.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

History of Britain - Vol 2

Fascinating look at Britain’s “take” on the people and values of those countries with which it either went to war, traded or colonised. It’s so obvious, when you hear (or read) books like this, why “Britishness” is as it is. This period of history isn’t as interesting to me as that covered in volume 1, but having imbibed my history mainly during my schooling from the late 1940’s, I learned stuff from a different perspective. And the narrator was, again, impressive.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great over view

Fascinating overview of Britain's empire building and how the loss of USA sent us to focus on India.

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Fantastic content

Brilliant, so much Information I didn’t know on our British history. Onto part three now.

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fascinating

A detailed, interesting well read, well written, filled with information overview of history, still valid in today's world.

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Stunning

Beautifully written and read. A must for history fans. Off t read the last in this great series.

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    3 out of 5 stars

cannot see the wood for the trees

Well narrated and outstandingly well researched, but gets bogged down in so much minutiae that the broad sweep of the history often gets lost. The author also liked to use a lot of big words that are outside my vocabulary. I will still get the third instalment though!

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Great read

Incredible detail and references and read with clarity and precision. Look forward to the 3rd book.

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