64 Kbps
14 CD's
The story of Britain from the earliest settlements in 3000BC to the death of Elizabeth 1 in 1603. To look back at the past is to understand the present. In this vivid account of over 4000 years of British history Simon Schama takes us on an epic journey which encompasses the very beginnings of the nation's identity, when the first settlers landed on Orkney. From the successes and failures of the monarchy to the daily life of a Roman soldier stationed on Hadrian's Wall, Schama gives a vivid, fascinating account of the many different stories and struggles that lie behind the growth of our island nation.

Described as an "epic book" by the publishers, this frequently bandied and much devalued term may be, for once, an understatement. Schama seems set to follow his Rembrandt's Eyes success with this book - part archaeology, part social history - and the accompanying 16-part television series, co-produced by the BBC and the History Channel. Writing in an engaging, accessible style and dotted with interesting illustrations, both of which more than balance the sheer bulk of the book, Schama approaches a broad sweep of our nation's history from 3500BC to our modern post-imperial state. He has set out to show that, as much as we have changed over the last 5500 years, much has remained in common between us and our ancestors.