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[limbomonkey]

Can someone please recommend to me a good British history book? I know that "British history" emcompasses a lot, so anything wide in scope would be good. Or if there's something you really like that's more narrow, that's fine too. I just want to know more about the place I live.

Comments

[adustierstar]

I honestly don't remember what books we used in the classes I took (not that I read them - college was a lectures-only exercise for me, most of the time), but 1066 and All That is a fun, jokey recap. Though I don't remember how much of it is just jokes you won't get if you don't already know the truth?

For particular time periods, I recommend Horrible Histories (both the infinite book series and the CBBC show), as they are very entertaining, if debatable historiography, broadly accurate.

I have no resources whatsoever that can be directed toward the present day/ 20th C, as anything after 1700 I really don't care about unless it's in a novel I've read (also if you like 19th C fiction, I suggest Elizabeth Gaskell, especially North & South (there is also a BBC miniseries I highly recommend if you're interested in a more feminist Pride & Prejudice substitute). For anything substantive on the 19th and 20th centuries I'm afraid I can't help you. Not that my suggestions are terribly helpful if you want balanced, scholarly history, but they can probably be backed up with judicious wiki-walking to create a serviceable understanding.

[limbomonkey]

Thanks. Maybe Q and I will check out Horrible Histories, and I'll hit up wikipedia. *shudder* Then if anything catches my fancy, I'll find a book to take me more in depth.

I think I'm more interested in 19th century-present day since I stuck with this book through the American Revolution.