British History for Dummies

by Sean Lang

Book Overview

A stirring trip through the essentials of British History. Britain's past brought right up to date. This book is a riotous, irreverent account of the people and events that have shaped Britain. It's a "who, what, when, where and why" that reads like a thriller and a comedy rolled into one. Inside you'll find rip-roaring stories of power-mad kings, executions, invasions, high treason, global empire-building and forbidden love - not bad for a nation...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764570218
• ISBN13: 9780764570216
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully entertaining- and you learn something too!

I wanted to read a general history of Britain, and that is just what I got. The book takes you from the very beginnings to present day and is a great overview of Britain's history. I really enjoyed reading it. It wasn't dry and boring, but very entertaining while giving you important info. I highly recommend it. In fact, I am ordering US History for Dummies and hope that it is just as good.

Best history book

If I had of had this book when in high school, I would have liked history. (History was not my favorite class in those days.)

god save the queen !!

as a non british person this book can make you a spesialiesd person in the british history . try and you will see

Informative yet humorous

What a wonderful survey course in British History! The author is an authority and provides just the right amount of information for a book "for the rest of us". I was interested in this history because I'm doing genealogy, and my ancestors came over with William the Conqueror and then the Scottish ones were among the Protestants who went and settled in Ulster. I wanted the historical background for this and I got it -- with a lot of humor along the way! This has got to be the first *history* book I've ever read that caused me to laugh out loud while reading! I highly recommend this to anyone interested in an overview of British history from pre-historic times to the present.

Never boring!

Hello, my name is Rebecca and I'm a dummy! England, Scotland, and Ireland to me were: the accents, the Royalty, tea and crumpets, Leprechauns, Oliver Twist, Romeo and Juliet, Monty Python, soccer(football)...basically I knew nothing. I've never had so much fun reading a history book before. If you want really in depth detail about certain events in British History, than this book is not for you. If, like me, you are a complete dummy when it comes to the islands, than BUY THIS BOOK! I'm American and the history I remember studying in school was mainly American History. Yeah, I knew about Henry the eigth and his many headless wives, Queen Elizabeth, The Titanic, Shakespeare, the half truths I learned from movies and television (Braveheart, Robin Hood), but I never understood the big picture. Who were the Celts, when did the Kings come into the picture, when did Scots become Scots and why did they want to be seperate from England? The book is a huge summary of basically every event that took place from the cave men to Harry Potter. I found out why we celebrate St. Patricks Day (I had no idea he wasn't Irish), and why South Ireland isn't a part of the U.K., and what the I.R.A. really is and why they are so mad, and I found out why the Queen and Royalty don't have much authority over the country anymore. Even though the author sprinkles in a lot of his own opinions(hilariously accurate), he gives it to you straight, shows the good side AND the ugly side of the English, Scots, Irish, Welsh...everyone. This book should not substitute for other detailed books. It actually makes me want to read more about certain events, but now I know how it all strings together. It's basically a great book to start with if you are in fact, like me, a dummy!