A History of Britain - The Complete Collection
from: A&E Home Video
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What do you get when you combine the resources and ethos of the BBC with the literary panache of one of the world's best narrative historians? The answer is Simon Schama's History of Britain television series. In this well-written and thoughtfully crafted survey, Schama, the bestselling author of books on European cultural history such as The Embarrassment of Riches and Citizens, has managed to be both conventional and provocative. He tells the official version of Britain's story--Roman Britain, the Norman Conquest, the struggles of the Henrys and Richards, Elizabeth I, Scottish rebellions and the English Civil Wars, the American Revolution, the growth of the British Empire, Queen Victoria, the industrial age, and Winston Churchill. But while sticking to a script familiar to anyone who sat up and listened during history class, Schama brings it all alive with memorable prose and presence--Simon de Montfort's rebel parliament is described as inaugurating the "union between patriotism and insubordination"; with Henry VIII, Schama says, "you could practically smell the testosterone." Schama is also particularly enlightening on the symbolism of buildings, memorials, language, and ceremonies, and on the complex relations between England and its Celtic and Catholic neighbors. If history must have gloss, then let it be presented like this. --Miles Taylor
Description:
From the dawn of civilization to the 20th century, A HISTORY OF BRITAIN re-animates familiar tales and illuminates overlooked aspects of England's past. Written and hosted by historian Simon Schama (the bestselling author of Rembrandt's Eyes and The Embarrassment of Riches), this monumental The History Channel®/BBC co-production has been hailed by critics for its colorful--and controversial--approach, which discards timelines and tiresome lineages for a lively look at the personalities and cultures that infuse British history.
From India to Ireland, the Norman Invasion to the American Revolution, Schama spotlights the epic themes and towering figures that transformed an island "at the edge of the world" into the greatest empire on earth, examining the impact of this extraordinary heritage on the modern nation.
All 15 episodes of the landmark series are available on DVD for the first time in this extraordinary collector's set that belongs in the library of every history buff. Beginnings, Conquest, Dynasty, Nations, King Death, Burning Convictions, The Body of the Queen, The British Wars, Revolutions, Britannia Incorporated, The Wrong Empire, Forces of Nature, Victoria and herSisters, Empire of Good Intentions, The Two Winstons.
What do you get when you combine the resources and ethos of the BBC with the literary panache of one of the world's best narrative historians? The answer is Simon Schama's History of Britain television series. In this well-written and thoughtfully crafted survey, Schama, the bestselling author of books on European cultural history such as The Embarrassment of Riches and Citizens, has managed to be both conventional and provocative. He tells the official version of Britain's story--Roman Britain, the Norman Conquest, the struggles of the Henrys and Richards, Elizabeth I, Scottish rebellions and the English Civil Wars, the American Revolution, the growth of the British Empire, Queen Victoria, the industrial age, and Winston Churchill. But while sticking to a script familiar to anyone who sat up and listened during history class, Schama brings it all alive with memorable prose and presence--Simon de Montfort's rebel parliament is described as inaugurating the "union between patriotism and insubordination"; with Henry VIII, Schama says, "you could practically smell the testosterone." Schama is also particularly enlightening on the symbolism of buildings, memorials, language, and ceremonies, and on the complex relations between England and its Celtic and Catholic neighbors. If history must have gloss, then let it be presented like this. --Miles Taylor
Description:
From the dawn of civilization to the 20th century, A HISTORY OF BRITAIN re-animates familiar tales and illuminates overlooked aspects of England's past. Written and hosted by historian Simon Schama (the bestselling author of Rembrandt's Eyes and The Embarrassment of Riches), this monumental The History Channel®/BBC co-production has been hailed by critics for its colorful--and controversial--approach, which discards timelines and tiresome lineages for a lively look at the personalities and cultures that infuse British history.
From India to Ireland, the Norman Invasion to the American Revolution, Schama spotlights the epic themes and towering figures that transformed an island "at the edge of the world" into the greatest empire on earth, examining the impact of this extraordinary heritage on the modern nation.
All 15 episodes of the landmark series are available on DVD for the first time in this extraordinary collector's set that belongs in the library of every history buff. Beginnings, Conquest, Dynasty, Nations, King Death, Burning Convictions, The Body of the Queen, The British Wars, Revolutions, Britannia Incorporated, The Wrong Empire, Forces of Nature, Victoria and herSisters, Empire of Good Intentions, The Two Winstons.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- No One Tells it Like Simon Schama
There is no one quite like Simon Schama.He makes the history of Britain coherent, understandable, and unique, and he has the ability to help the viewer comprehend the great achievements of Britain while being honest, humorous, informative, clear and articulate in the presentation.His stories and visuals are very well chosen. He is one of only a fewpresenters of history in video - Bronowski and Clark come to mind - who can stimulate the mind and excite the viewer through audio and visual imagery ... Read More
Rating: 
- This series is JUST AWFUL
The producers pride themselves on 'disengaging from the tedious timeline of history.' What is history without a timeline? This series is a tedious thread of pictures, images, FEELINGS. Trite drama without substantive detail, pablum for the mind-numb -- the narrator's exaggerated facial contortions gave us endless minutes of mirth (and I use the word 'endless' with great intent). Do not waste your time and money on this one.
Rating: - Don't buy this American set
When I started watching I expected it to be up to the ususal BBC standards, after all BBC is the producer of the mind blowing "Planet Earth" series. And I could not be more right! "A History of Britian" is nothing less than an experience that must be lived to be believed. It takes you in a time machine ride to cover 3000 years of Britian's history using stunning visuals and excellent music. Of course nowhere near the detail of the 3 books by Simon with the same title, but he manages to include as much ... Read More
Rating: - RULE BRITANIA!!!
Very inspiring, well done series. Great photography, not the usual set of boring dates, names, etc. Makes history come alive!
Rating: - A Great Series!
Simon Schama's A History of Britain presents the epic history of the British Isles in a lively, engaging and beautiful manner.I have a passion for history, and have been plenty of documentaries.A good documentary gives both a thorough recounting of events and sheds new light onto them.A great one can introduce ideas that one had not previously thought of, but delight as well as inform, and Simon Schama's work definitely falls into the latter category.
An art historian, Simon Schama includes ... Read More
- No One Tells it Like Simon SchamaThere is no one quite like Simon Schama.He makes the history of Britain coherent, understandable, and unique, and he has the ability to help the viewer comprehend the great achievements of Britain while being honest, humorous, informative, clear and articulate in the presentation.His stories and visuals are very well chosen. He is one of only a fewpresenters of history in video - Bronowski and Clark come to mind - who can stimulate the mind and excite the viewer through audio and visual imagery ... Read More
- This series is JUST AWFULThe producers pride themselves on 'disengaging from the tedious timeline of history.' What is history without a timeline? This series is a tedious thread of pictures, images, FEELINGS. Trite drama without substantive detail, pablum for the mind-numb -- the narrator's exaggerated facial contortions gave us endless minutes of mirth (and I use the word 'endless' with great intent). Do not waste your time and money on this one.
- Don't buy this American setWhen I started watching I expected it to be up to the ususal BBC standards, after all BBC is the producer of the mind blowing "Planet Earth" series. And I could not be more right! "A History of Britian" is nothing less than an experience that must be lived to be believed. It takes you in a time machine ride to cover 3000 years of Britian's history using stunning visuals and excellent music. Of course nowhere near the detail of the 3 books by Simon with the same title, but he manages to include as much ... Read More
- RULE BRITANIA!!!Very inspiring, well done series. Great photography, not the usual set of boring dates, names, etc. Makes history come alive!
- A Great Series!Simon Schama's A History of Britain presents the epic history of the British Isles in a lively, engaging and beautiful manner.I have a passion for history, and have been plenty of documentaries.A good documentary gives both a thorough recounting of events and sheds new light onto them.A great one can introduce ideas that one had not previously thought of, but delight as well as inform, and Simon Schama's work definitely falls into the latter category.
An art historian, Simon Schama includes ... Read More
