A History of Britain

by Fiona Beddall

[Penguin Readers Level 3]

Original / British English Britain is a small country but it has a long history. Two thousand years ago it was part of the Roman Empire. In the 1930s the British Empire was the biggest empire in world history. In the past, kings and queens fought to rule Britain. Discover how wars, revolutions and religion have changed its history. Read about the different countries of the United Kingdom and the great men and women who have shaped the British nation.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Fiona Beddall has taught EFL to a variety of age groups in France, Spain and the UK, and has fifteen years’ experience as a writer and editor of teaching materials. She has written a number of teacher’s resource books and activity books. She also has a long-standing interest in graded readers, and has written and adapted several for the Penguin Readers series, including Alexander the Great, A History of Britain and The Odyssey.

Reviews

[Sarah Far · Rating 3 out of 5]

Without its empire, britain is a small country again_ but a small country with a big history.
یک تاریخچه از بریتانیا...
اونجایی که در مورد حق رای زنان صحبت کرد، یاد خودمون افتادیم.
برای یک انقلاب درست و حسابی، نیاز به تلاش واقعی، تفکر اصولی و همچنین اخلاق و رابطه‌ی درست داریم.

[Saeed Almazrouei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about the history of Britain. Britain was a small country but it had a long history. Britain’s story was from the days of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago. It describes the different groups of people who had lived there. It shows how the four countries England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland came together as one state. Also the book told stories of some great men and women who shaped the British nation like Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell and some great queens like Boudica, Elizabeth and Victoria. These three queens had different control like Boudica was a dangerous enemy to the Romans. Elizabeth was a strong ruler and Victoria was queen of Britain’s lands around the world. Also you will find out about the ordinary men and women of British history. Some of them left Britain and built new lives across the seas and others stayed in Britain.

[Santosh Thapa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bhadra 9, 2077, Tuesday

A History of Britain - Fiona Beddall (2006)
[Penguin Readers Pre-Intermediate (Level 3)]

Genres: EnglishGradedReaders/ Nonfiction/ History
Pages: 48
Rating: 5/10

Themes: Religion> Catholic vs. Protestant/ Balance of Power> Monarch vs. Parliament/ War

Opener:
“It was 1066, and Edward, King of England, was dead. He had no children. The most important people in the country met to choose a new king. They chose Harold. Harold wasn’t a blood relative of King Edward, but he was the Queen’s brother. He was a popular man for the job.”

Summary:
More than 2,000 years of times past are brought to life in this lively and interesting account of Britain’s history. It reveals the main events, characters, and movements that have made Britain the country it is today. Although a small country, Britain’s history is important on the world stage, and this book places Britain within its world context. Beginning with the Romans’ invasion of Britain in 55BC, the book follows Britain’s history in broadly chronological order, though the chapters are organized thematically. Feature boxes within the main body of the text also describe some of the most famous characters from British history in more depth. Some social history, as well as political history, is also covered.

Final Review:
Britain has a rich, diverse history; it’s a shame it is all described so dryly in the book.

[Abdualrzak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very nice book I learned alot of informations about Britain . Don't miss it 👍🏿😉

[Emin · Rating 5 out of 5]

.

[Thamnocalamus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a small book about the history of Britain. And the author wrote the complicate history and relationships clearly in very simple sentences and very fundamental words. There is no difficulty for a student in middle school to read it. And frankly, it should be read in my school time, not only for gaining the idea of the british history, but also for learning how to explain a complicate thing or story with elementory, but well organised language, and how to write classy simple sentences in English.

The history begins with the first invader, Harold of Norway. Harold died at the end of the battle against William of Normandy, and William of Normandy was William the Conqueror, King of England.

Before Normans Conqueror, Britan was invaded by Romans, Angle-Saxons, and Viking. And the Norman was the last one.

The second chapter introduces how did Wales, Scots and Northern Ireland become parts of Britain. The shape of National Parliament was described in the last part of this chapter.

The third chapter told theprocessing of the Religion in Britain. Henry VIII cannot be avoided in this topic. Oh what a melodramatic history about Henry VIII!!!!!!! His hideous messy marriges left over a series of problems to Britain.
Henry VIII=>Edward(Protestant)=>Mary(daugher of Katharine of Aragon, Catholic)=>Elisabeth(daughter of Anne Boleyn, Protestant)=>James II

The forth chapter is about how did the Parliament conflict gainst king. The fifth chapter mentions the land revolution and industrial revolution, which were the power-base of the Empire of sun never goes down, which was detailed describe in the next but last chapter. The Victoria time was a gorgeous time for Britain, but the book fails to mention that that was a miserable memory for China, and might for other colonial countries. The last chapter is about how did the Empire of sun never goes down form and collapse, and the role Britain had played in the two World Wars. However it doesn't mention any word about 'colonial' even once.

Anyway, this is a very readable and worth reading book. I highly recommended it and will list it in my you-know-where-daughter's MUST READING AT PRIMARY SCHOOL list.

Ah, nearly forgot, at the end of chapter 6, there were reading guides and small exercises for each chapter, that's lovely.

[Kenza Harrouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small book is very useful and simple to read by native and non-native English speakers , it gives the whole history of Britain , information about kings and queens , parliament and government , and how people used to live years by years with the events that happen in very century such as The first and second World War , and the power of the great empire of Britain . In my opinion , the book is not only about the history of Britain , but about the world because the events are linked together .

[Daiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penguin, level 3
It took 90 minutes.
-Britain, king, queen, war, Ireland, empire,paliament
Q-Do you know about British history?
A- Actually, I don't know in detail.
- After I read this book, there were a lot of bettle about next king.
People could not believe christian. So I thought it was stressful time.

[Crestial Wintersmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole purpose of this book is like a brief introduction British history from Roman empire to Britain Parliament.

[alternBRUNO°° · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good material for teaching. The sentences are short and easy to understand. The author knows how to present facts in a simple way. Recommendable for B1 or almost B2 level readers.

[julia 🗜️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75