History of the English Speaking People: Birth of Britain, 55 B.C. to 1485: 001
by Winston S. Churchill
History of the English Sp...
Winston S. Churchill |
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 36)
Read in August, 2007
I so don't like having to choose an edition I didn't read. But the insides of the book would be the same, wouldn't they?
This is a real history book. Written in literate English by someone who knew how to communicate. Interestingly (well, to me it was) it was mostly written before the second world war, but not published until after. Volume one goes way, way back to the beginning of Britain. Churchill writes about the Romans, King Arthur, the War of the Roses, Magna Charta, the Norman Con...more
This is a real history book. Written in literate English by someone who knew how to communicate. Interestingly (well, to me it was) it was mostly written before the second world war, but not published until after. Volume one goes way, way back to the beginning of Britain. Churchill writes about the Romans, King Arthur, the War of the Roses, Magna Charta, the Norman Con...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This book was written by Churchill in 1957. I have always been fascinated by the Plantagenet kings. The first Plantagenet was Henry II-1154-89. He married Eleanor Aquitaine and inherited lots of French provinces. He was the one that "did in" Thomas Beckett. A quote from the book: "To contempories he was best known as Henry Fitz-Simmons; but he carried into English history the emblem of his house, the broom, the Planta Genesta, which later generations were to make the name of ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I love how Churchill uses language. The way he can use multiple meanings of words is uncanny. He was a master. I've never read a book that sent me to my dictionary more than this one and have never been more rewarded by my word searches. I don't have any examples in my memory and I'm not about to go through the books right now just to satisfy the curiosity of some drugged out guitar player.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Really good book and incredibly 'readable' for non-history folks. It was a little tricky navigating some of the British punctuation (omission of commas for clarity, specifically).
The book begins with Briton still under the Pax Romana and ends with Elizabeth I. Fascinating information and thorough, but not too mired down in details.
The book begins with Briton still under the Pax Romana and ends with Elizabeth I. Fascinating information and thorough, but not too mired down in details.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
third or fourth time through this first volume. it's endlessly fascinating to learn about how english language, culture, law, religion, folk custom, etc developed from druids, romans, germans, vikings, and normans to produce robin hood, king arthur, the wife of bath, hamlet, and sir john falstaff.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
Fiction readers interested in Britain
Bad historian, great story-teller. With pre-medieval Britain the latter is more important anyway.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1970
I loved this book because i tis beautiful written and compellingly told.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is the best history book I have ever read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.97 (36 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 5.00 (2 ratings) number of reviews: 9popular shelves
other editions
quote
"And wherever men are fighting against barbarism, tyranny, and massacre, for freedom, law, and honour, let them remember that the fame of their deeds, even though they themselves be exterminated, may perhaps be celebrated as long as the world rolls round. "
more quotes »