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Our Island Story: A History of Britain for Boys and Girls
A child's history of England from earliest legendary times delightfully retold. Beginning with the stories of Albion and Brutus, it relates all the interesting legends and hero tales in which the history of England abounds through the end of the reign of Queen Victoria. Suitable for children ages 9 and up to read to themselves and for children as young as 6 as a read-aloud.
676 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1905
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About the author
H.E. Marshall
59 books36 followersHenrietta Elizabeth Marshall (usually credited as H.E. Marshall) was a Scottish author, particularly well known for her works of popular national history for children.
H.E. Marshall is famous for her 1905 children's history of England, Our Island Story: A History of England for Boys and Girls, illustrated by A. S. Forrest. In the USA the book was entitled An Island Story. The book was a bestseller, was printed in numerous editions, and for fifty years was the standard and much-loved book by which children learned the history of England. However a lot of this book is historically inaccurate and much of it uses Shakespeare's plays for historical sources; for example, the section of Richard III is really a summary of the play. The book is still to be found in schools and homes, but the last printing was in 1953 and it went out of print in the 1960s. In 2005, an alliance of the Civitas think-tank and various national newspapers brought the book back into print, with the aim of sending a free copy to each of the UK's primary schools. Readers of The Daily Telegraph contributed £25,000 to the cost of the reprint.
She was educated at a girls' boarding school called Laurel Bank, in Melrose. Between 1901 and 1904 she was the superintendent of a hall of residence for female students at the University of Glasgow, but, otherwise, she appears to have made her living throughout her life by writing. She never married.
As is made clear by the Prefaces of her books from time to time, she travelled extensively after 1904, including to Melbourne, California and China, although her obituary in The Times stated that she spent most of her life in Oxford and in London, where she died.
H.E. Marshall is famous for her 1905 children's history of England, Our Island Story: A History of England for Boys and Girls, illustrated by A. S. Forrest. In the USA the book was entitled An Island Story. The book was a bestseller, was printed in numerous editions, and for fifty years was the standard and much-loved book by which children learned the history of England. However a lot of this book is historically inaccurate and much of it uses Shakespeare's plays for historical sources; for example, the section of Richard III is really a summary of the play. The book is still to be found in schools and homes, but the last printing was in 1953 and it went out of print in the 1960s. In 2005, an alliance of the Civitas think-tank and various national newspapers brought the book back into print, with the aim of sending a free copy to each of the UK's primary schools. Readers of The Daily Telegraph contributed £25,000 to the cost of the reprint.
She was educated at a girls' boarding school called Laurel Bank, in Melrose. Between 1901 and 1904 she was the superintendent of a hall of residence for female students at the University of Glasgow, but, otherwise, she appears to have made her living throughout her life by writing. She never married.
As is made clear by the Prefaces of her books from time to time, she travelled extensively after 1904, including to Melbourne, California and China, although her obituary in The Times stated that she spent most of her life in Oxford and in London, where she died.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
September 10, 2019
The complete history of England, the greatest nation in the world, as told to English boys and girls in the year 1905.
Hear the tales of the first explorers of this island, their conquests, victories and defeats from British chieftains to Julius Caesar and through to William the Conqueror. Watch how the Britons learned to love their liberty and independence and spread these values to all the peoples of the world.
Warning! Not politically correct
image:
Boadicea was a queen and a national hero of the Britons as they fought the invading Romans
The greedy Romans were not pleased with only half of the dead king's wealth. They wanted the whole. So they came and took it by force. Boadicea was a very brave woman. She was not afraid of the Romans, and she tried to make them give back what they had stolen from her.
Then these cruel, wicked men laughed at her. And because she was a woman and had, they thought, no one to protect her, they beat her with rods and were rude to her daughters.
But although the Romans were clever, they sometimes did stupid things. They thought very little of their own women, and they did not understand that many of the women of Britain were as brave and as wise as the men, and quite as difficult to conquer.
After Boadicea had been so cruelly and unjustly treated, she burned with anger against the Romans. Her heart was full only of thoughts of revenge. She called her people together, and, standing on a mound of earth so that they could see and hear her, she made a speech to them.
As she spoke, fierce desires for revenge grew in them. They had hated their Roman conquerors before, now the hatred became a madness.
image:
So, when Boadicea had finished speaking, a cry of rage rose from the Britons. They beat upon their shields with their swords, and swore to avenge their Queen, to fight and die for her and for their country.
The battles which followed were terrible indeed. The words of Queen Boadicea had stirred the Britons until they were mad with thoughts of revenge, and hopes of freedom. They gave no mercy, and they asked none. They utterly destroyed the towns of London and of St. Albans, or Verulamium as it was then called, killing every one, man, woman and child.
Please enter your thoughts in the comments below as this politically incorrect book differs from the history books for adults.
Follow the waves of invaders who later became true Britons. See the little dark people as they retreat into Wales, the Celtic farmers, the Romans (come and go), the Saxons, Angles, Danes, Normans each take their place as kings and queens of England.
Watch the explorers map the world, and then the armies, traders, missionaries, and settlers make it their own.
image:
Enjoy!
Hear the tales of the first explorers of this island, their conquests, victories and defeats from British chieftains to Julius Caesar and through to William the Conqueror. Watch how the Britons learned to love their liberty and independence and spread these values to all the peoples of the world.
Warning! Not politically correct
image:
Boadicea was a queen and a national hero of the Britons as they fought the invading Romans
The greedy Romans were not pleased with only half of the dead king's wealth. They wanted the whole. So they came and took it by force. Boadicea was a very brave woman. She was not afraid of the Romans, and she tried to make them give back what they had stolen from her.
Then these cruel, wicked men laughed at her. And because she was a woman and had, they thought, no one to protect her, they beat her with rods and were rude to her daughters.
But although the Romans were clever, they sometimes did stupid things. They thought very little of their own women, and they did not understand that many of the women of Britain were as brave and as wise as the men, and quite as difficult to conquer.
After Boadicea had been so cruelly and unjustly treated, she burned with anger against the Romans. Her heart was full only of thoughts of revenge. She called her people together, and, standing on a mound of earth so that they could see and hear her, she made a speech to them.
As she spoke, fierce desires for revenge grew in them. They had hated their Roman conquerors before, now the hatred became a madness.
image:
So, when Boadicea had finished speaking, a cry of rage rose from the Britons. They beat upon their shields with their swords, and swore to avenge their Queen, to fight and die for her and for their country.
The battles which followed were terrible indeed. The words of Queen Boadicea had stirred the Britons until they were mad with thoughts of revenge, and hopes of freedom. They gave no mercy, and they asked none. They utterly destroyed the towns of London and of St. Albans, or Verulamium as it was then called, killing every one, man, woman and child.
Please enter your thoughts in the comments below as this politically incorrect book differs from the history books for adults.
Follow the waves of invaders who later became true Britons. See the little dark people as they retreat into Wales, the Celtic farmers, the Romans (come and go), the Saxons, Angles, Danes, Normans each take their place as kings and queens of England.
Watch the explorers map the world, and then the armies, traders, missionaries, and settlers make it their own.
image:
Enjoy!
February 11, 2012
Our Island Story (H.E. Marshall) is Ambleside’s history spine for the early years. It is a history of Britain for young readers, and an absolute treasure of a book from a Charlotte Mason standpoint, meaning that Axa gives incredible narrations (i.e. nearly verbatim) of the stories after just a single hearing. My most moving experience this term was hearing her narrate the story of Boadicea, the warrior queen. Her rendition was sensitive, precise, and beautiful. Obviously, she was highly affected by the proud, powerful, but very human heroine of the story. I remember being similarly affected when I read about Boadicea as a child. I guess we can put her right up there with Jadis.
This book is a product of 19th century Britain, and the inherent bias is obvious. I read it to my children with discussion, and supplement with other books from complementary viewpoints
This book is a product of 19th century Britain, and the inherent bias is obvious. I read it to my children with discussion, and supplement with other books from complementary viewpoints
August 27, 2015
We have been watching the 1960 "Shakespeare's An Age of Kings" series. To help keep the kings straight in the plays, I got out this book that we'd used as one of our homeschool history books. Despite the fact that it was first published in 1905 (or perhaps because it was written then), it is an excellent resource for adults as well as "boys and girls". Presented chronologically, each historical event and king or queen is presented with basic facts and associated myths. At some point I may even understand the Wars of the Roses!
It works hand-in-hand very nicely with Shakespeare's historical plays. Highly recommended!
It works hand-in-hand very nicely with Shakespeare's historical plays. Highly recommended!
June 23, 2025
We have really enjoyed this history! Excited to start over again in the fall!
2025-finished for a second time (what was scheduled for AO form 1) with Lucy.
2025-finished for a second time (what was scheduled for AO form 1) with Lucy.
January 24, 2025
I gather this book was quite famous for the entire first half of the 20th century—a book that every English schoolchild read and (almost as universally) loved. Having read it over three years with my own schoolchildren, I think it deserves every bit of this reputation.
The book also stands up quite well to contemporary reading—partly, I think, because the author's stance is not terribly pro-Empire, pro-conquest, or pro-anything, other than pro-people-living-peaceful-lives-free-of-intrusion. At the same time, she does a good job explaining what was at stake on both or all sides of the various conflicts that make history so fascinating—and making the people involved seem neither more nor less than human. Impressive in her avoidance of chronological snobbery, neither progressive nor reactionary, H.E. Marshall treats her historical personages and her historical eras with care and dignity.
In other words, in my evaluation, this is exceptionally good history!
Our Island Story is also thorough (110 chapters from the legendary origins of Britain to Queen Victoria), concise (I marvel at how effectively the author condenses and streamlines complex historical circumstances), and beautifully written.
It's "straight history"—nothing very flashy or avant guard about it—but so very appealing. Though simplified for children, it's not dumbed down or reductionistic, and the book truly provides a solid framework of British history proper. It invites and equips children to reckon with the monument and testimony of the past. Best of all, as its reputation and my own experience would suggest, Our Island Story makes it hard not to fall in love with history and with England (or to fall in love with them all over again, as the case may be!).
The book also stands up quite well to contemporary reading—partly, I think, because the author's stance is not terribly pro-Empire, pro-conquest, or pro-anything, other than pro-people-living-peaceful-lives-free-of-intrusion. At the same time, she does a good job explaining what was at stake on both or all sides of the various conflicts that make history so fascinating—and making the people involved seem neither more nor less than human. Impressive in her avoidance of chronological snobbery, neither progressive nor reactionary, H.E. Marshall treats her historical personages and her historical eras with care and dignity.
In other words, in my evaluation, this is exceptionally good history!
Our Island Story is also thorough (110 chapters from the legendary origins of Britain to Queen Victoria), concise (I marvel at how effectively the author condenses and streamlines complex historical circumstances), and beautifully written.
It's "straight history"—nothing very flashy or avant guard about it—but so very appealing. Though simplified for children, it's not dumbed down or reductionistic, and the book truly provides a solid framework of British history proper. It invites and equips children to reckon with the monument and testimony of the past. Best of all, as its reputation and my own experience would suggest, Our Island Story makes it hard not to fall in love with history and with England (or to fall in love with them all over again, as the case may be!).
February 21, 2025
Three years running, my absolute favorite school book so far.
September 27, 2014
Have not technically finished this book since we are using it as a reading textbook in our study of British History that will take most of the school year. I thought it deserved a write up, regardless, owing that we have enjoyed it so much only a month into the school year. This book is an amazing tool for home schoolers, educators, or any person desiring to educate themselves on British History. Written by a mother for her own children a little before the turn of last century, it is exactly what its title states: A Story. Like all stories there are some embellishments, some myth, some prejudice on the story-tellers part. Most of all its a readable thorough history of an important, fascinating history, covering nearly two thousand years, yet accessible for children to read on their own for kids, interesting and educationally sound enough to satisfy adults; pretty impressive. I teach history to my middle school children without a set curriculum, but draw from several texts and write out my own notes, as interestingly as I can. Our Island Story has been a perfect way to enlighten a few thousand years of names, dates, facts, wars, kings, queens, and disasters into a "living narrative" {a staple in Charlotte Mason inspired teaching...also British which comes as no surprise}. When facts were scant or too laborious to tackle, Our Island Story has perfectly filled in the gaps. Its beautiful illustrations, short chapters, and descriptive narratives of what real people may have thought or felt is a perfect assigned reading, or read aloud, especially for those who hate history because it seems so boring and pointless. Highly recommended.
March 3, 2023
An incredible, narrative-style history of England starting with the invasion of the Romans (around 55 BC) through the year 1901. I used this as a read-aloud for all of my older four children (ages 7-12) during Morning Time, and I think I actually loved it more than they did. Ha! Let's just say I didn't get a fantastic overview of British history during my own education, but I'm getting one now as a homeschool mom.
We will definitely revisit this one in several years when my youngest two are old enough to join our morning meetings, although I may stretch it out and read it over a period of years instead of just 7 months (which is how we read it this time around). This is a great frame/general overview to later add more details to as an older student. 10/10 would recommend.
We will definitely revisit this one in several years when my youngest two are old enough to join our morning meetings, although I may stretch it out and read it over a period of years instead of just 7 months (which is how we read it this time around). This is a great frame/general overview to later add more details to as an older student. 10/10 would recommend.
July 11, 2024
This is the history of Britain told in several short stories making it much more accessible to children. Like many history books, there is some bias and should be supplemented with other readings for a more accurate understanding but overall very thorough and not dry at all. It does get a little descriptive about some of the violence so I recommend pre-reading for younger/sensitive children.
September 19, 2021
Somehow the author was able to take centuries of battles + greedy and selfish kings + extreme religious persecution and = a fairly interesting take on England's history. She interspersed legends and heroic tales that sparkled in the dark, just at times when I was sure England (and I) could not take any more senseless violence. How times have changed... yet... remain the same.
May 19, 2013
I actually have what I think is a first edition, inscribed to my mother by her great-uncle, my great-great-uncle Wolf (anglicized in the signature to "Wolfe") Romm. Wolfe was born in Latvia and came here as a young teenager. He and his brother Karl ("Charlie") were active in forming the printers' union in New York. They were reportedly quite short in stature and never married. Wolfe was a bibliomaniac, not only collecting rare books but occasionally stealing them from libraries. When he gave this book to my mother it must have been at least 40 years old already.
The book is well-written and a good read. The author freely states that some of her stories of English history are fairy tales rather the truth, perhaps leading the astute child-reader to learn that history is indeed stories and should be read critically with an eye to who is doing the telling. H.E. Marshall was a woman, and a forward suggests that the book may have been written originally for a friend's Australian children. She mentions that women in New Zealand actually have the vote. It's a great document of Edwardian sentiment (Edward VII is still king of England in the last chapter) and of Imperialist beliefs.
It may also be a source for the parody historical text "1066 and All That." My husband and I noticed many parallels in phrasing. Try reading them one after the other and see what you think.
The book is well-written and a good read. The author freely states that some of her stories of English history are fairy tales rather the truth, perhaps leading the astute child-reader to learn that history is indeed stories and should be read critically with an eye to who is doing the telling. H.E. Marshall was a woman, and a forward suggests that the book may have been written originally for a friend's Australian children. She mentions that women in New Zealand actually have the vote. It's a great document of Edwardian sentiment (Edward VII is still king of England in the last chapter) and of Imperialist beliefs.
It may also be a source for the parody historical text "1066 and All That." My husband and I noticed many parallels in phrasing. Try reading them one after the other and see what you think.
April 26, 2014
A lovely, read aloud, big-picture, history of England that has aged rather well. There are some passages where I notice the Eurocentric nature of Ms. Marshall's world, and others where our knowledge of what has happened since her times colors her account in rather different strokes. Nonetheless, we enjoy this book immensely and highly recommend it as a general history of the United Kingdom.
January 3, 2021
I read this one with my kids, and while, officially, it was their education we were working toward, my own understanding of history deepened considerably as a result of reading Our Island Story. And not just English/European history, either: understanding this gave me a new appreciation for the way that American history and government are rooted in the freedoms won and cherished in England, going back a thousand years at least, as I made connections between these stories and the principles of freedom found in the American Constitution.
The stories are simple; Marshal tells and episodic narrative history in this book, reaching back into myth at the start, and continuing forward through colonization, the American Revolution, and the Victorian era. They are simple stories, but relatable, and memorable, which makes this an excellent foundation for building further history studies on.
The stories are simple; Marshal tells and episodic narrative history in this book, reaching back into myth at the start, and continuing forward through colonization, the American Revolution, and the Victorian era. They are simple stories, but relatable, and memorable, which makes this an excellent foundation for building further history studies on.
April 20, 2025
This was an interesting brutal recap of British legends that transitions to factual history. Such a bloody history. Wow. The British really like a good battle with lots of brutal death. Geez. Overall I’m not sure who this book is for. Maybe 6-8th grade based on style, but the context is rough. I thought it mentioned being for children…maybe British children raised on war? It’s wild to think of reading this to my eight year old. Lots and lots of passages like: arrows filled the sky like a heavy snowfall and with each that pierced the chests and legs of the French enemies they lost their resolve. Or, they rode through the valley of Hell with death all around and only a few making it out but proving their bravery. The historical takes are interesting for older folks like me, just expect a childlike prose and mixed in poetry.
November 16, 2021
Our Island Story is a child's history of Great Britain, as told in short stories that focus primarily on the stories of people. My girls all loved it, and regularly begged for "one more chapter, PLEEEEEASE?!?" I was delighted to find an audio version on Librivox, which made it easy to read some chapters aloud and listen to others.
No history book is going to be perfect, and while there were some things I didn't always agree with, I love that Marshall wrote a book that makes history so accessible for children. She makes the past come to life for them, and that is truly something to delight in.
No history book is going to be perfect, and while there were some things I didn't always agree with, I love that Marshall wrote a book that makes history so accessible for children. She makes the past come to life for them, and that is truly something to delight in.
December 17, 2020
He offers a thorough yet concise histoyr of England for middle school. Highly recomended.
June 12, 2023
For the last 3 years this was our history spine. I enjoyed the storytelling, and so did my students.
October 2, 2023
This took us a year to read but I'm so glad we stuck with it. Very well written for a children's history text.
Read
May 6, 2024Liked even better the 2nd time through. I'm going to miss this book after reading it for 8 years in a row 🥲
September 25, 2024
It’s actually been years since I read this, but I enjoyed it supremely. It’s a joy to read aloud. But—and this is where it gets tricky—it’s not a factual history of England. I still think this is really valuable as a cultural artefact, a sort of greatest hits of *historical stories* that the English people told about themselves for centuries. And it fits in beautifully with Shakespeare, and studying English poetry and art. I’d really recommend it, with the caveat that you must read it for what it is.
January 13, 2025
Well-written and accessible comprehensive British history book. It was written for kids, but the kids at heart will also enjoy it, regardless of age.
April 19, 2025
Well… the title doesn’t lie. It is purely a history of England. From the Romans to sometime sooner (I don’t remember when). It’s boring. Unless you really like England.
August 1, 2023
Phew! That took forever, but we read in cycles. Bea loved this volume so much. She voluntarily narrated each chapter, and insisted we read the entire book.
March 11, 2013
I expected this book - bought by my mother via a Daily Telegraph offer for her grandchildren, who have never read it - to be ghastly and unreadable, but needing to brush up a bit (a LOT) on my Kings and Queens for the sake of the Quiz League I thought I'd give it a quick whiz through. It IS ghastly in many ways - history merely as a succession of feuding nobles - but it was surprisingly readable, and what really surprised me was the frankness of it - I expected to read about one or two 'bad kings' along the way but in fact I have to scratch my head to think of more than one or two monarchs who the author thought was really any good. William the Conk and Richard the Lionheart come badly out of it for starters, and it just seems to go diownhill from there. She was not, to my knowledge, a closet republican, but she did leave me even more bemused than before about the popularity of the monarchy given the moral and psychological shortcomings of most of its incumbents. Anyway, that's getting off the subject. This book is called a 'story' and that's exactly what it is - not enlightening or mind-broadening like EH Gombrich's extraordinary history book for children (which I have also recently reviewed) - but if you didn't pay much attention in your school history classes and would now like fill in a few of the gaps in your English (mainly) History tabula rasa, and get a little bit inside the mind of prim and proper Edwardian writer (her account finishes with Victoria), this is not such a bad place to start.
February 16, 2017
Luisterboek. De geschiedenis van Groot Brittanië, een jeugdboek. Ik kende wel een beetje van de gesciedenis van het Verenigd Koninkrijk, maar ik vond dit boek zeer interessant omdat de chronologische volgorde van al de gebeurtenissen en heersers me nu duidelijker werd.
February 27, 2017
So it might be a children's book but I thoroughly enjoyed this narrative overview of British history.
One I'm looking forward to reading to the next generation as a bedtime story!
Tennyson's 'Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington' is quoted in respect of Wolfe and the taking of Quebec but it sums up the central themes of the book.
Not once or twice in our fair island-story,
The path of duty was the way to glory:
He, that ever following her commands,
On with toil of heart and knees and hands,
Thro’ the long gorge to the far light has won
His path upward, and prevail’d,
Shall find the toppling crags of Duty scal’d
Are close upon the shining table-lands
To which our God Himself is moon and sun.
Such was he: his work is done.
But while the races of mankind endure,
Let his great example stand
Colossal, seen of every land,
And keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure:
Till in all lands and thro’ all human story
The path of duty be the way to glory.
One I'm looking forward to reading to the next generation as a bedtime story!
Tennyson's 'Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington' is quoted in respect of Wolfe and the taking of Quebec but it sums up the central themes of the book.
Not once or twice in our fair island-story,
The path of duty was the way to glory:
He, that ever following her commands,
On with toil of heart and knees and hands,
Thro’ the long gorge to the far light has won
His path upward, and prevail’d,
Shall find the toppling crags of Duty scal’d
Are close upon the shining table-lands
To which our God Himself is moon and sun.
Such was he: his work is done.
But while the races of mankind endure,
Let his great example stand
Colossal, seen of every land,
And keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure:
Till in all lands and thro’ all human story
The path of duty be the way to glory.
October 13, 2015
My 1906 edition is called "An Island Story", but I assume it's the same book:
Ebook edition here: [https://archive.org/details/islandsto...]
Excellent book about the history of Britain and its kings - the stories are written clearly, concisely and it explains difficult concepts and words (like "Pro-testant") in an easy to understand way. The history becomes a big adventure story. I found it hard to put down. Can't wait to read this to my kids when they get a bit older.
A little sample - about Henry VIII - Catherine Howard:
"This time, the King soon discovered that he had married a wicked woman. She was not any more wicked than Henry was himself, but he did not think of that. To punish her, he cut off her head and the heads of several of her friends as well."
Ah yeah, why not :)
Ebook edition here: [https://archive.org/details/islandsto...]
Excellent book about the history of Britain and its kings - the stories are written clearly, concisely and it explains difficult concepts and words (like "Pro-testant") in an easy to understand way. The history becomes a big adventure story. I found it hard to put down. Can't wait to read this to my kids when they get a bit older.
A little sample - about Henry VIII - Catherine Howard:
"This time, the King soon discovered that he had married a wicked woman. She was not any more wicked than Henry was himself, but he did not think of that. To punish her, he cut off her head and the heads of several of her friends as well."
Ah yeah, why not :)
June 12, 2016
Somehow the author manages to tell about the English succession of monarchs, wars, beheadings and wicked rulers in a remarkably cheerful, storytelling tone. It's quite an achievement really for a children's author, as I've never seen such a list of tragedy in any book of history. For some strange reason I actually enjoyed it, and even fell asleep occasionally while listening to the Librivox audiobook. But I did start to feel the weight of all that wickedness towards the end of the book, particularly when the Indian rebellion was being described.
The Librivox readers for both parts of the book were excellent.
The Librivox readers for both parts of the book were excellent.
July 22, 2009
Our Island Story, is all about britains past. it makes a possibly boring topic quite exciting, even though it is all true, it feels and flows like a story. It covers most of the topics that can be linked with britain. the book itself is a very good read for anyone who wants to learn about britains past, or someone at school who is learning about a particular topic as it is all condensed into single chapters, which feel just the right legnth for the book. an excellant read overall.
January 15, 2009
A good overall history of Britain from the beginning of recorded history until the beginning of the 20th century. We also read Our Empire Story, which was about the British colonies. This provided a good view of Imperialism as well as an understanding of the basis for most of 20th century politics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews