A Short History of England: The Glorious Story of a Rowdy Nation

by Simon Jenkins

The heroes and villains, triumphs and disasters of English history are instantly familiar—from the Norman Conquest to Henry VIII, Queen Victoria to the two world wars. But to understand their full significance we need to know the whole story. A Short History of England sheds new light on all the key individuals and events in English history by bringing them together in an enlightening account of the country’s birth, rise to global prominence, and then partial eclipse. It is the definitive narrative of how today’s England came to be.

With 16 Pages of Glorious, Full-Color Illustrations

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, Historical, Audiobook, Politics, European History

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Sir Simon David Jenkins, FSA, FRSL is the author of the international bestsellers England’s Thousand Best Churches and England’s Thousand Best Houses, the former editor of The Times and Evening Standard and a columnist for the Guardian. He is chairman of the National Trust.

Reviews

[Mike Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simon Jenkins rattles through the history of England in a brisk, no-nonsense fashion, summarising, precising, determining for all he's worth. A writer of a certain generation, this was no doubt how he was taught history at his presumably rather good school - short, sharp and with no room for ambiguity or doubt. The style has an utterly familiar ring to it for this is Tory history in essence: my country right or wrong, the forward march of progress, the glorious destiny of the English people, all for the best in the best all possible worlds.

This is massively nostalgic for me as it's very much the way I was taught history - chronologically as though there was an inexorable forward momentum to it, and with a focus on the great and not so great kings and other personages through whose lives the story of our nation was told. When someone started introducing nambypamby social stuff into the curriculum (brilliantly parodied by Craig Brown in 1966 And All That) I yawned inexorably. I realise of course now I was terribly wrong - for all the life of a Victorian scullery maid lacks the excitement of Henry VIII's insatiable shagging around, what happened to ordinary people, and not just those at the bottom of the heap but near the bottom and a little bit further up from it too, make a much bigger contribution than you'd imagine when focusing on the pageant and drama of monarchy.

Setting that aside though, this is a solid and readable trot through the kings and queens and later prime ministers and other politicians who have steered and shaped our country for better or worse. As a child I ate up L Du Garden Peach's Ladybird history series, most notably the two-volume Kings and Queens (to the point I can still name each monarch and dates of reigns from William the Conqueror [1066-87] to Elizabeth II [1952 - ] and no it's not nerdy thank you, but has won the day in more than one pub quiz I can tell you). Someone then gave me Lady Antonia Fraser's Kings and Queens of England, a whopping paperback volume that was more of the same but since published by Sceptre it had a lot more sex in it. Both works essentially boiled the monarchs and reigns down to their most basic constituent parts and like most Tory history provided simple judgements of each - William the Conq (stern but effective), William Rufus (shady, possibly homosexual), Henry I (just and fair but tragic), Edward I (hammer of the Scots and therefore a good egg who'd have done well at Eton), Edward II (weak and sexually deviant), Henry VI (fat and mad) etc.

Given each monarch/prime minister can only be given a handful of pages Jenkins adopts the same approach and it's very much in keeping with its National Trust origins (Jenkins is the current chair) - history presented in an attractively Laura Ashley style, with no failings or errors but lots of the messier and more inconvenient stuff left out.

A good read, but anyone with more than a passing acquaintance with the country's history may want something more substantial. Perhaps a good event for someone you know who is thinking of immigrating and will face a Home Office citizenship test anytime soon.

[Graham Power · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is either commendably ambitious or just plain bonkers: a history of England, from the Dark Ages to Brexit, in less than three hundred pages. I couldn’t help thinking of Monty Python’s All-England Summarise Proust Competition, in which contestants have to give a summary of À la recherche du temps perdu in fifteen seconds (first in a swimsuit and then in evening dress). Still, a book like this is a tempting proposition for an ignoramus like myself who, although keen to learn, doesn’t feel ready for the full eleven volumes of The New Oxford History of England just yet.

It’s very much a kings and things deal, with the common people being granted the occasional walk-on part, mainly to serve as cannon fodder in wartime. The focus is on politics and power, and the pace is inevitably dizzying. The Hundred Years’ War, for instance, is all done and dusted in eight pages. That’s the trouble with history on fast-forward: you’re just settling down nicely in Elizabethan England when suddenly the First World War breaks out.

The accumulation of so many facts in such a confined space left me light-headed. I doubt if many of them will be retained in my increasingly sieve-like memory, but even I am unlikely to forget the savage retribution meted out to the gunpowder plotters of 1605. I will spare you the many and grisly details (beheading and quartering of the bodies being merely the finishing touches). There is, however, an undeniable grim humour to be obtained from learning that this barbarity was described as ‘an ordinary punishment’. I hope Guy Fawkes and his pals were properly grateful they were excused the extraordinary one.

[Ryan Lally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could easily be renamed, "A short history of English Monarchy and Politics". I am reluctant to be too harsh on Jenkins for 'missing' certain elements here as any attempt to give a concise account of a nation's history (especially one as elaborate as England) is destined to be a truncated one. However this seemed to be explicitly England through the lens of politics, monarchy and and the ruling class. Little to nothing is made of social movements, culture, art, (though architecture is touched upon) and the thoughts of the people.. Another curse of the, 'A short history of...' genre, especially one which centers itself around 100's of years of monarchy and parliament, is it too easily slips into being a dizzying spate of dates, names, decrees and titles, in parts reading almost like history exam notes. In general though, for his chosen domain, Jenkins gives a very clear distilled account of some of England's defining moments and figures and, much like England's history, despite intermittent periods of tedium and drudgery, there are moments of brilliance and clarity.

[Fergie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having minored in history in college, it still surprises me upon reflection that I did not take any courses that focused squarely on England (being the self-proclaimed Anglophile that I am). Most of the books I read at that time and many of the courses I took were about Russian history -- from Peter & Catherine the Great, to the last Tsars of Russia. I'm the first to admit that American schools fall woefully short when it comes to teaching its students anything outside of the bounds of American history, and even then, Americans are known to have only a cursory interest and even less of an understanding of the subject. My insatiable need to understand world history often makes it a challenge to find a book deserving of my level of interest. If written by the wrong hand, many nonfiction history books can come across as dry. I'm glad to say that Simon Jenkin's Short History of England is just the kind of book to spark any history lover's interest. Having already read Rebecca Fraser's "The Story of Britain", I had a basic understanding of England's vast history, but the mere scope of Fraser's "Story" was daunting as she chose to research and report on deeper, more intricate history of the British Isles. For most of Jenkin's book, he discusses the unique history of England, separate from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland (and the British Empire as a whole). "A Short History of England" really begins by overviewing the Roman occupation and continues to the present day. The reader will understand the progression from fractious, regional rulers right through to Parliament and constitutional monarchy whose roots could be found in King John's acquiescence to the history-changing Magna Carta in the thirteenth century. In reading England's history, the reader will see how England was unique in its ability to conform, transform, and ultimately transcend risks that faltered other kingdoms.

Simon Jenkins "A Short History of England" will satisfy the curiosity of any one interested in learning more about one of the greatest nations on earth. Despite it appearing at times to lack in objectivity (in fact, the book sometimes comes across as a love story to England), the reader will forgive the author. The pace of the book will keep the reader engaged and reading. England's story is a page turner. History provided Simon Jenkins with a richly interesting tale, and yet, his ability to write in such a way as to sustain the reader's interest should be commended. He wisely chose not to get bogged down in all the intricate details that sometimes slowed down Rebecca Fraser's "The Story of Britain". I'm glad I read both books, but if a reader is interested in reading both, I'd suggest starting with Jenkin's before moving onto the more detailed history written by Fraser.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it gave me insight into historical events that I didn’t know much about (Before 1066) but there was a little too much historical and political bias at times and this made me cringe at the author’s refusal to see both sides of the argument.

[Caleb Beers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best history book I've read. The problem with Jenkins' text is that it functions mostly as a list of names and dates. Unlike more interesting history books which detail the social, political, and especially the economic climates that lead to various events, this book simply lists the names of kings, the dates of battles, and occasionally makes a comment on the culture or economy of the time. However, this is the first book on English history that I've read, and while I would have preferred more depth, this Yankee can appreciate the fascinating history of a country like England through a basic introductory text like this. Not recommended for people with familiarity with English history, but if you're a complete newbie, it's worth a shot.

[Andrew Robins · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a book advertises itself as a "short" history of England, and has 280 odd pages to fit everything in, one obvious upshot is that certain periods are covered in a brief blizzard of names and places. I found this highly confusing and hard to follow in the parts of our history i had absolutely no idea about (ie everything pre 1066), and to be honest, having only just finished the book, I still can't remember that much about that period.

Where I enjoyed the book much more was in covering periods in which I had a rough idea of events, or subjects i had a sketchy knowledge of. If you are looking to improve your knowledge of our history in that way, to fill in the gaps between the bits you did at school, then this book is really excellent.

Simon Jenkins is a good writer, and - subject to the point above re the torrent of names and places, which is pretty much unavoidable - does an excellent job of conveying a huge amount of information in an informative, witty and memorable style.

I now know that in the 1730s there was 1 gin house for every 11 dwellings in London. That fact alone makes the book worth reading.

[Fred Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wandering the UK on my first ever visit, I came across this in a local bookstore. Given that I was visiting historical places this seemed a good way to get up to speed with the mother country. As the title implies, the book is short and sweet. But well told. Not much left out from a British perspective, but from the U.S. definitely. No war of 1812,for example but plenty of battles of ancient kings. One thing that did drive me bonkers was the lack of a map. Events were taking place all over the UK and a map would have made things a lot easier to understand. (It does have an insert section of 16 pages of color photos and illustrations.) Still, got the job done. I ended up better informed and have been given a path to follow should I wish to inquire for more details on specific incidents.

On a personal note, my Mom's folks go back to Edward III son John of Gaunt, my Dad's to his brother Lionel of Clarence. Makes me my own cousin, Dad my uncle, etc. but what I did not know was the these two were the ones who started the famous "War of the Roses" and here I had family on both sides and was not aware of it. Worth picking the book up just for that!

[Victor Sonkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a concise illustrated brief history of England (not Britain) since the beginning of times (after the Romans left) to the present, quite up-to-date, considering. Some might think it partisan, and I'm sure many English people have and will; for a foreigner, it's a very solid introduction that imposes some kind of narrative structure and unity on all those scattered snippets of Henry VIII's wives and Churchill's blood and sweat. Especially touching is the fact that this is exactly what the author was trying to make clear for himself; I'm sure most nonfiction books are written with this motivation in mind. An excellent entry-level book.

[Flynn Corton]

Got up to the 18th Century before I had to give it back to my Dad. What I did read was super helpful tho…

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Jenkins' A Short History of England is the kind of book that makes history feel like high-stakes political drama — except it’s all real, and Jenkins is the narrator with a raised eyebrow and a ready gavel. I first read it in 2012, soon after it came out — when the Coalition Government was still freshly minted and austerity was the word of the day. I returned to it in 2019, just as Brexit was splintering political certainties. And now, revisiting it today, I’m struck again by how Jenkins compresses over a thousand years into one sleek, iron-willed volume.

This isn’t your usual textbook draped in dates and dust. It’s brisk, beautifully written, and refreshingly opinionated. Jenkins, ever the journalist, refuses to tiptoe around strong takes — he lauds the Tudors’ flair, slaps down Edward VIII with relish, and remains unrepentantly skeptical of imperial grandeur. What you get is a political history: kings, queens, Cromwell, Churchill, Thatcher — Parliament’s slow growth into supremacy, and monarchy’s reluctant retreat into pageantry. It’s England as seen from the high seats of Westminster and the crown, with only the occasional glance toward the street below.

That’s part of its charm — and its limitation. Jenkins writes with such confidence that you almost forgive him for the gaps. Culture, science, and social movements receive fleeting mention. The peasants may revolt, but only in the margins. Scotland, Wales, and Ireland appear like supporting characters in an overwhelmingly London-centric play. For someone wanting the “bones” of English political history — the scaffolding of power — this is a masterclass. But for a richer understanding of how the English lived, loved, and labored? You’ll have to supplement.

Still, there's something thrilling about Jenkins' clarity. Each era is boiled down to a thesis — often bold, occasionally reductive, always memorable. He’s never in doubt, and that makes for brisk reading. He’s the kind of historian who treats every monarch like a case study in leadership, every prime minister like a test of the English constitution. I often found myself scribbling marginalia, disagreeing here, applauding there — but never bored.

So why read it thrice? Because like England itself, Jenkins’ narrative is dense with repetition, resilience, and reinvention. Every reading yielded new insights depending on the times I was living through. In 2012, I admired its scope. In 2019, I questioned its omissions. Today, I appreciate it as a sharply written, elegantly biased companion to more inclusive, grassroots-centered histories.

Simon Jenkins’ A Short History of England is history as argument, not as archive. It may not tell you everything — but it tells you what Jenkins thinks matters most. And sometimes, that’s the most revealing kind of history of all.

[Richard Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you wish for a concise, well written and learned history of England, this will do as well as anything. Simon Jenkins does what he says on the packet and writes a short history. There are rivals in Peter Ackroyd and Simon Schama but their books are in several volumes and to my mind, although good to have (and I do) rather fall between the stall that Simon Jenkins is in, a good single volume history, and that occupied by the Oxford histories which cover the same ground in ten or so volumes. I might quarrel with some his views but that is what I read a history book to do - to have my own ideas and views challenged to make me think through the basis of my memories of what I had learned.

[Alex Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of a couple of thousand years of a nation that has had an incredible influence on the world. Most of the narrative is focussed on monarchs (and then prime ministers once they become relevant) and their grand ideas and events. There is not much of a dive into ordinary lives or society aside from broad strokes, but this is made abundantly clear in the introduction that this is a political history, and a short one at that. For a general introduction to the breadth of English history it is very strong, and you will guarantee to find time periods you’ll want to look elsewhere to delve into further.

[Mesoscope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenkins presents us with a serviceable and opinionated historical sketch of England from the Anglo-Saxon invasion through the present day. By necessity, this brief book leaps and bounds at full speed through its course. It would be dangerous to read this book in isolation, but it provides a useful big picture view, and I found it a useful framework for pursuing areas of interest for further study.

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Posthumous’? Update - interesting book one that I wish I could just burn the facts into my head rather than reading cuz doesn’t read like a book. One fact I always remember was in 1252 king Henry III imported a polar bear to live in london and it used to swim in the Thames I think . U could imagine the suprise of a punter on their way home from a night at the tavern

[Angel Serrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro de historia de Inglaterra se lee como una novela. Su principal limitación es que se centra en la historia política con gran atención al parlamentarismo. La economía, la cultura y la demografía son prácticamente ignoradas.

[Vasco Simões · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro estilo resumos da Europa América com o essencial de séculos de história, reis, rainhas, batalhas, casamentos, traições, intrigas do que conhecemos hoje como Inglaterra. Leitura acessível e interessante sem ser enfadonha e sem trezentas mil notas de rodapé que permitem estar atento.

[Borja Pontecanedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go England.

A enfeitizadora historia desta sempre atractiva nación é tratada dende unha perspectiva sinxela que nos conta como foi a evolución durante os últimos 15 séculos do devandito anaco de terra insular denominado Inglaterra.

Unha obra na que nomes e datas se suceden de maneira lixeira e ordenada como ben se oferta no seu nome: “Breve historia se Inglaterra”.

Fico coa análise de interesantísimas figuras e casas reais, dende a fase heptárquica ( os 7 reinos que se distribúen pola zona ) até a coalición de Cameron - que hoxe sabemos fracasada -.

Unha nación que entendeu ben cedo a rendibilidade do parlamentarismo e que deu un paso adiante coa obriga de acadaren pactos con ministros/as de diferentes ideoloxías dende a época do dualismo Whig-Tory.

Alfred The Great, Elisabet II, Disraeli ou Lloyd George conforman unha escolma de sobranceiros persoeiros cuxo estudo merecería unha cantidade de obras a parte.

A escaseza de análise das políticas coloniais, as poucas páxinas adicadas aos reinos medievais “pre-Alfred” e as gabanzas a Henry VIII son, ao meu ver, puntos negros da obra que, polos motivos que foren, Jenkins decidiu evitar/defender.

Unha boa obra de achegamento que, coma un entrante nunha lupanda de verán nos deixa con arelas de seguirmos profundando no estudo deste país que, polo de agora, segue sen atopar o seu papel no mundo.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book which uses narrative history to make links between previously isolated periods of history. Themes are analysed throughout, making it easier to understand social and political change from Roman Britain to the country we see today; to understand how we went from an absolute monarchy to a pluralistic democracy; and to understand what has caused the country to change so much over two thousand years.

[Caleb Hintze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Orem Reads challenge. This is a great review of England’s political history, explaining dynasties, houses, wars, etc. I had learned this stuff in school, but never in a comprehensive picture like this. I read this in preparation of our trip to England. Would read again to learn more about British history.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really excellent survey of our history. Jenkins is fair and interesting. Really enjoyable.

[Tamára · Rating 3 out of 5]

Demasiado superficial.

[Alex Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice condensed history of our country, from the white old Tory view however

[Tommy Bowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

No-nonsense; a lot of history in not a lot of pages. My goodness a few things have happened on this little island

[Vasco Simões · Rating 3 out of 5]

Porque o saber não ocupa lugar e gosto de saber de onde vimos.

[mia]

Really nice general overview of English history. It’s obviously extremely condensed which I don’t mind and I think it does a good job within its scope but I wish it went more into English treatment of Ireland/the colonies because I feel like this particular aspect is really brushed over

[Roy-James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll fully admit I knew very little of English history before reading this book; apart from the key dates learned in school and names of the 'important' monarchs that I couldn't place in order - be thankful for roman numerals - and to be honest I'm still a little sketchy on that. But at least now I can place them, why these dates were important and how everything that happened from the romans has shaped where I live, and me.

This book is an overview so if you're like me and are intrigued then it's a great jumping off point. Written in manageable chunks you can get through it rather speedily and written so well there wasn't one period of history that wasn't fascinating. To me it took the shape of a fabulous novel, the characters varied and numerous, the battles bloody and heartbreaking, the treachery, romance and fight for power and perhaps most importantly the open ending waiting to be filled by anyone of us... okay, that sounds a bit corny I admit, but there is something inspiring about reading about your history.

I don't want this to sound like it's a sentimental glimpse of England of old or a fairytale, as it most definitely is not. Parts of this book show you the atrocities that power can bring and do and it's not a celebration of nationalism either; it's simply an on going tale of a land.

[George Dobson · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this was indeed a history of England. But it lacked the scholarship and analysis that I look for in a history book. Don't get me wrong I'm no historian, but I want a scholar of history to give me the lay persons guide. But this just seemed to be Jenkins world view, it seemed like he ran head first into every cliche of English history. Seems to be a little too enamored by the British empire, a little too generous to the hero's of Conservative Britain today and a little too distrustful of what he calls 'The Celtic Fringe' (Scotland, Wales and Ireland).

If you want to see history through the eyes of your kinda posh brexit voting uncle then this book is the book for you.... also if you've read what I've just written and think I sound like a lefty snowflake or a mindless guardian reading socialist, then you will probably also enjoy this book

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written book covering all of English history from the Romans to 2011. Having to cover so much scope means that the author didn't get to do in depth on some things that might have been pet interests to me, but it gave a great understanding of how this nation came to be. I loved those "aha" moments when something I'd seen or a place I'd walked by was suddenly brought into context by reading it's place in history or how it came to be. An example would be how the three feathers came to be on the crest of the Prince of Wales, something we'd see on the side of a truck delivering goods for a company that had a royal warrant from the Queen and the Prince of Wales.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad history of England, but exactly what it says: Short. The rush to feed you dates and facts leaves out a lot of context, and sometimes even meaning, but if you already have a solid knowledge of the country's history and want a quick refresher, it does the job. It's biggest problem is in balance. The first thousand years of English history is packed into the first half of the book, while the second half carries just one hundred years. And it has to be said that the telling gets more interesting the more words Jenkins has to tell it in.