'History clings tight but it also kicks loose,' writes Simon Schama at the outset of At the Edge of the World?, the first book in his three-volume journey into Britain's past. And change - sometimes gentle and subtle, sometimes shocking and violent - is the dynamic of Schama's unapologetically personal and grippingly written history.
A History of Britain Series
This epic series delves into the rich and complex past of the British Isles, spanning from prehistoric eras to the cusp of the new millennium. The engaging narrative style brings to life pivotal moments, figures, and societal shifts that have shaped the nation. From early civilizations to the rise and fall of empire, this work offers profound insights into British identity and its global impact. It's a captivating historical journey for anyone curious about the forces that forged a nation.
Recommended Reading Order
Simon Schama explores the forces that tore Britain apart during two centuries of dynamic change - transforming outlooks, allegiances and boundaries. But as wars of religious passions gave way to campaigns for profit, the British people did come together in the imperial enterprise of 'Britannia Incorporated'.
This volume of Simon Schama's A History of Britain vividly recounts the tumultuous civil wars that shaped the nation, revealing the stark realities of conflict among Ireland, England, and Scotland, as well as between parliament and the crown. These wars, marked by idealism and brutal violence, resulted in a staggering loss of life, surpassing even the casualties of the First World War. As religious fervor waned, the pursuit of profit emerged, leading to the formation of "Britannia Incorporated," which transformed Britain from a peripheral entity into a dominant global empire. However, this empire, perceived as a symbol of liberty, was built on military might and the enslavement of countless Africans. The contradictions of British claims to freedom were starkly highlighted in America, where figures like Sam Adams and George Washington challenged the legitimacy of colonial rule. Schama captures the horrors of war, famine, and plague, alongside the personal tragedies of families torn apart by conflict. He also delves into the dynamics of power within palace and parliament, exploring the allure of wealth and pleasure. Notable figures such as John Milton, Thomas Hobbes, and Benjamin Franklin come to life, alongside Scottish clansmen, women pamphleteers, and articulate African slaves like Olaudah Equiano.
Schama completes his three-volume history of Britain to accompany the BBC TV series. This period, 1770-2000, covers a variety of themes and key British characters. First, the Romantic generation turned Nature into a revolutionary force, followed by the creative Victorians seeking a better world.
Simon Schama’s dramatic, broad-ranging, and immensely readable epic history of Britain reaches its triumphant conclusion in this third and final volume, which stretches from the American Revolution to the present.