A Brief History of Britain 1660-1851

A Brief History of Britain #3

by William Gibson

Praise for the
'Gibson's well written and well-documented account of James and the bishops will surely become the new standard authority on these "implausible revolutionaries" for many decades.'
Barbara Brandon Schnorrenberg, Anglican and Episcopal History

In 1660, England emerged from the devastation of the Civil Wars and restored the king, Charles II, to the throne. Over the next 190 years Britain would establish itself as the leading nation in the world - the centre of a burgeoning empire, at the forefront of the Enlightenment and the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution.

However, radical change also brought with it anxiety and violence. America was lost in the War of Independence and calls for revolution at home were never far from the surface of everyday life.

In this vivid and convincing overview of the era in which Britain transformed the world and was itself remade, leading historian of the period William Gibson also looks at the impact of this revolutionary change on the ordinary citizens of Britain.

This is the third book in this wonderfully concise four-volume Brief History of Britain which brings together leading historians to tell the story of Britain from the Norman Conquest of 1066 right up to the present day. Combining the latest research with accessible and entertaining story-telling, it is the ideal introduction to British history for students and general readers.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, Ebooks, Audiobook, 21st Century

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2011

About the author

William Gibson is Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford Brookes University and Director of the Oxford Center for Methodism and Church History, Oxford, England.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well written. I liked the people who were influential at the time being mentioned.
There wasn't so much monarchy written about as society.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely readable, enjoyable exploration of British history running from the Restoration of Monarchy in 1660 to the early years of Queen Victoria's reign. The book covers politics, economics, social movements, and for me of great importance -- religion. Many general histories of Britain fail to give religion its due as a social/cultural force, but such is not the case here. Bill Gibson has focused his attention -- in other books -- on British religion, and that knowledge shows here.

[Esther* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be part of a bigger series that walks the reader through various chunks of British history in each one. As well as the usual focus on monarchy, which is the main (recorded) influence on most of our country’s various eras, it also explores other major upheavals in religion, technology and philosophy. As it lays out the period thematically, there is quite a lot of repetition as it circles back to some of the same events through the lens of different priorities, but I found that quite helpful as I often struggle to grasp where certain turning points sit in relation to other historical factors.

Really clear in its delivery, well-paced, interesting and easy to follow - everything you want in a history book.

[Halldór Thorgeirsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives you a good skeleton storyline on to which you can hang deeper understanding of British history as you learn more at a later stage. I found it interesting and it allowed me to connect the history of this important island to developments in other parts of the world.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

steady and seemingly even-handed (e.g. between the lives of the poor, antics of the powerful, culture, technology), I greatly enjoy these antidotes to the lack of my history learning from schooldays. A very dynamic couple of centuries for the British, with much subsequently copied in versions elsewhere - so it is taken at a bit of a canter. Perhaps understand more of the past or be condemned to repeat it without even the knowledge that you are doing so. It certainly adds to the ways in which you can see your own and contemporaries' lives.

[James Cay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a decent volume in the series and certainly helped me to piece together a period of British history that has remained a bit hazy. Sections on Enlightenment and especially the Industrial Revolution have piqued my interest for further reading. Maybe lacking a little the story-telling of the earlier books in the series, nevertheless this was a good read overall.

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives you a good overall knowledge of the period, and it does make you want to read more of the topics it covers.
I personally know quite a bit about this period, so I found this book a tad boring.

[Thorunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um margt fróðleg, athyglisvert hvernig konungsvaldið minnkaði smá saman og þingræðið jókst.