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The British Isles: A History of Four Nations (Canto S.)
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The British Isles: A History of Four Nations

Average customer rating:

An interesting and fresh historical perspective.
Better as a "reference" volume, I think

The British Isles: A History of Four Nations
Hugh Kearney
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521846005

Book Description

This is a new edition of Hugh Kearney's classic account of the British Isles from pre-Roman times to the present. When this book was first published it was acclaimed as a unique account of British history, distinguished by its treatment of English history as part of a wider 'history of four nations'. Acknowledging the significance of England, it attempts to deal with the histories of Wales, Ireland and Scotland in their own terms, while recognising that they too have political, religious and cultural divides. In this new edition the author takes into account the recent historiographical renaissances in Wales, Ireland and Scotland and examines the rise of a new multi-ethnic Britain and its implications for 'four-nations' history. This book offers a valuable case-study of the complexities which lie behind nationhood in Europe and will be essential reading for all students of British and Irish history.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting and fresh historical perspective........1998-02-07

Hugh Kearney argues that the history of the British Isles can not be properly understood by simply considering a single 'national' interpretation. The first five chapters of his book consider Celtic society, the Roman invasion, post-Roman centuries, Viking settlements and the Norman invasion - all within the context of the British Isles. The later chapters continue with the same approach, and bring a fresh perspective on well known events such as the 'English' civil war, the various Acts of Union (Wales in 1536, Scotland in 1707, and Ireland in 1800), the formation of the Irish Free State and the two world wars.

Better as a "reference" volume, I think.......1998-02-01

I admit it - I haven't finished this book yet. I find it hard slogging, despite the fact that I am interested in British history and want to learn more about it. I am surprised to find that one trade review referred to the book as "fast-moving". I do not find it to be so. But then, maybe I am just not enough of an historian to go for this. The book is very complete, as far as I can tell. But it's really not exciting reading - it would work well if a person needed the information for reference or something, but I prefer my histories to have more of a narrative thread to them than this one. It's not *bad*, just not as engaging as some other history books. Perhaps this one was not intended for the "general reader".

Average customer rating:

The Four Nations
Frank Welsh
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 000653211X

Book Description

Even by comparison to the United States, the United Kingdom has had a brief and fractious history. Its existence as an undivided entity lasted only for a disputatious 125 years, and its future remains precarious. In The Four Nations, Frank Welsh offers a lively narrative history of the four component parts of the British Isles—England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Moving from the Roman period, which first defined many of the current internal boundaries, through the present day, Welsh describes the history of each nation, their interactions, and the impacts of crises ranging from the Norman Invasion to the Protestant Reformation to the two world wars of the twentieth century. Along the way, Welsh questions many cherished illusions and poses some awkward questions: To what extent were Scotland, Ireland, and Wales victims of predatory English aggression? How serious is the frequently invoked specter of national fragmentation?

Filled with illuminating vignettes and provocative insights, The Four Nations is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the troubled histories of the British Isles.

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