smfmommy Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I am hoping someone can point me to a good British history book. My eldest who adores history is interested in reading a British history text from a British point of view. She has read gobs, but being American, they are predominately American authors and so the point of view is skewed. What would you suggest? It doesn't have to be old or free, just accessible (ie I can manage to buy it online) and interesting to read. I am sure I could find something, but I would like a personal recommendation as I don't want to buy something horribly boring. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 History of the English Speaking Peoples, by Churchill. Very well written. https://www.amazon.com/History-English-Speaking-Peoples-Revolution-Democracies/dp/0880294272/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489724213&sr=8-2&keywords=a+history+of+the+english+speaking+peoples My oldest is reading through this series as part of his high school great books work. He is loving them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I remember enjoying Simon Schama's television series, but found his writing a bit dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) There are so many. It could be worth going on Amazon.co.uk and just searching British History. She might also like the text books that go along with A level History. There are a lot of them because the course providers choose from a big range of topics some will be British history. There are a couple of publishers. Oxford https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=oxford+aqa+history+for+a+level&tag=hydrukspg-21&index=aps&hvadid=48261723012&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11082680412042837927&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045304&hvtargid=kwd-79262345386&ref=pd_sl_4z8fhpzu8u_e Hodder also do a similar series but I don't think there are as many books. Edited March 17, 2017 by lailasmum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I'm on my phone, so can't see ages in your sig, but for high school level I would say anything by Peter Ackroyd. I LOVE his books. I dont find them dry at all, and he has overviews as well as period focused works. They're available on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfmommy Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Thank you for the suggestions. My oldest is actually 19 so adult level works are fine too. I will check out the ones you all have mentioned. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 There's also a Great Courses British history series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfmommy Posted March 19, 2017 Author Share Posted March 19, 2017 Thanks for the reminder. She does prefer print though. We ordered some Peter Ackroyd from the library and have Churchill in the Amazon wish list. They should be a good start and we'll see where she wants to go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 (edited) Peter Ackroyd writes fiction too, so be aware of what you are getting. Edited March 19, 2017 by Laura Corin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 I think there is a for dummies book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Yup, in Kindle and even audible audiobook. https://www.amazon.com/British-History-for-Dummies/dp/B00BCAKGUG/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Overdrive has the book, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 I think audio versions of The Great Course are at audible.com for the price of a credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfmommy Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 Thanks Hunter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 For free vintage suggestions, check out the book lists at Heritage History. Click on "British Middle Ages" and "British Empire". http://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=products There is no need to buy the eBooks from Heritage History, but the quality of their books is superb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purduemeche Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Maybe below the requested reading level, but "Our Island Story" is a classic spine for this topic. It is assigned in Dialectic Level for Tapestry of Grace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 My kids loved Great Tales from English History 1,2 and 3 by Robert Lacey Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 (edited) Maybe below the requested reading level, but "Our Island Story" is a classic spine for this topic. It is assigned in Dialectic Level for Tapestry of Grace. I only assign this as a read aloud​, so that we can discuss everything wrong with it as we go through. Sexism, racism, imperialism, disgust at other religions... Edited March 20, 2017 by Laura Corin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SporkUK Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Is there a particularly part of British history of interest or types of British points of view she's after? It would make it easier to make a recommendation, there is quite a lot of it and lots of different British points of views... Niall Ferguson would be worth a look. I know quite a few who recommend his book Empire [he also has one on US history/expansion called Colossus, it may be interesting to compare what a Brit thinks of US history]. Darcus Howe: A Political Biography would be good for more modern history and the discussion of UK civil rights movements. I do like The Tribes of Britain by David Miles which is more of an early overview book though I'm too early in it to really recommend it. Honestly, I use a lot of the BBC Store/bbc iplayer for history which is IP locked so not much use. Most of the British history books we own are a book more tongue-in-cheek like "All the Countries we've ever invaded and the few we never got around to" which I may use for high school geography... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfmommy Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 She doesn't have a specific time period of interest, but Victorian era and the British view of early America would be two she would choose off hand. Thanks for the ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 She doesn't have a specific time period of interest, but Victorian era and the British view of early America would be two she would choose off hand. Thanks for the ideas. I think that both of those topics are on the A level syllabus, so searching bookdepository for 'A Level American History', for example, should come up with something. A Levels are a similar level to APs but are largely essay-based exams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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