This Sceptred Isle: 55 BC - 1901: The Roman Invasion to the Death of Queen Victoria

This Sceptred Isle #1-10

by Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee’s seminal history series, which accompanied the award–winning BBC radio series, narrates the rich and gripping story of Britain, from the Roman Invasion in 55 BC to the dawn of the 21st century. It focuses on the significant events and personalities that shaped Britain for over nearly 2000 years, tracing its emergence from the Dark Ages which followed the Romans' departure, through the great flowering of culture in medieval times and the gradual evolution of the modern state, to the making of an empire and the huge changes brought about by the industrial revolution.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

616 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Christopher Lee was a British writer, historian, and broadcaster, best known for creating and writing the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 documentary series This Sceptred Isle. His career spanned journalism, academia, military service, and historical writing.
After an early life at sea, he studied history at London University before joining the BBC as a defence and foreign affairs correspondent, with postings in Moscow and the Middle East. He later transitioned into academia, becoming the first Quatercentenary Fellow in Contemporary History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and conducting research at Birkbeck College. He also served in the Royal Navy's Joint Intelligence Reserve Branch, reaching the rank of captain.
Lee’s This Sceptred Isle, originally broadcast in 1995, chronicled British history from Roman times to the 20th century and was expanded with additional series covering the 20th century and the British Empire. His historical works include 1603, Nelson and Napoleon, and Monarchy, Past, Present… and Future?, as well as an abridgment of Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. He was also a prolific radio playwright, penning over 100 plays and series for BBC Radio 4.
Beyond writing, he served as a defence and foreign affairs adviser to the British Forces Broadcasting Service for 30 years and was involved in policy analysis.
He divided his time between Sussex and Florence, Italy, and was married to portrait painter Fiona Graham-Mackay. Lee passed away in 2021 at the age of 79.

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a whirlwind tour of British history. Starting as a radio series, the book zips through all of the important events. At least 1/3 of the book is made up of passages from Churchill's history of the English Speaking People. It's a good summary, if not original, and certainly fast reading.

[Felicity Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great overview of centuries of British History. The author focuses on the political history above all, which isn't a big deal until the 1500s or so. The book gets a bit caught up in "who was forming a government that then lasted 6 months," which wasn't as interesting.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book. There are cultural references, such as where different phrases come from, as well as a bit of social and "how the normal people lived" thrown in between the political stuff (wars, governments, etc).

[C.A. Gray]

Boy this is dry. My husband and I read about a hundred pages aloud to each other and then decided this is just not the sort of book that's conducive to that sort of thing and gave up. Too bad because we both love British history.

Favorite takeaway though: Aethelred the Ill-Counseled, alternately called Aethelred the Unready. Maybe he's unready because he's ill-counseled. How would you like to go down in history as either one?!

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrary to expectations I enjoyed this book. General histories are in danger of not having enough depth but the author presents this book very well. By using comments from Churchill's History of the English Speaking-Peoples and original sources such as political speeches and letters, many of the important events, with which we are all vaguely familiar are presented in a much more interesting way by the people involved.

[George Foord · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good overview of english history, the book has more detail in the later parts of history than the beginning. The roman history of Britain is only about 10 pages. Some parts of the history in the book is outdated but overall a good read.

[Ross-Barry Barcock. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, albeit long.

[Neil Bye · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute excellent read! Great overview of the history of the British Isles but mainly England and its interactions with the rest of what became the UK and Europe….

[Kathy Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bad part: Since there is a little information about a lot a lot of events and people, you really need to know a little British history before you get into this. The good part: you don't need to start with much.

This is an incredibly detailed book on British history that starts with the Romans and ends with Queen V. It quotes extensively from Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking People, which on some pages forms more than half the text. Initially this rubbed me wrong then I figured out that if Churchill had said it so well (and he did), why should I insist someone else paraphrase (plagiarize) it?

It's not a book you sit down and read - it's one you read a bit of, put it away for a while, then read some more. Then you don't donate it to the library sale, you hold on to it for future reference. Believe me, keeping track of so many Henrys and Georges and Marys is quite a chore and even an Anglophile like me sometimes gets them mixed up.

I would love to read the rest of the story - 1901 to present - when he writes it.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally a BBC radio broadcast from the mid-90's, I think now we would call it a podcast. Up to about the late 19th century it comes across as a heavily edited version of Churchill's "A History Of The English-Speaking Peoples" with extended commentary and inclusion of contemporary writings. But that is okay, since Churchill's ability to make every sentence sound like a grand opening to an epic novel is, I think, one of the treasures of written English. The commentary helps to overcome Winston's partiality and keeps the story together. The main political themes are repeated through time, so that the modern era is shown to directly tie to the past. All in all a great way to get a detailed, if more political than social, history of our friends across the Pond.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent introduction to British history or to plus those gaps. I was reading it as required reading for my PGCE history which begins in September. I felt myself becoming annoyed with the basic level of information in some eras but I put this down to my good knowledge more than the writing style of the author. Other sections, principally those I was not as familiar with I felt were wrote much better. As a background information back or an annles version of British history this book is good.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty comprehensive. Personally I wasn't that keen on his style, but then it was a radio series and may well sound better than read.

It assumes little knowledge, but for that reason is at times repetitive. The sheer amount of primary source material, however, means that this is a work which will introduce one thoroughly to each historical period in British history.

Liked it.

[Malte · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first time a now have an idea about the british (english) history. The quote rich book is interesting, but as we progress in time the sources get easier to find and thus more quotes are used, wich makes the last chapters a little longer than I would have prefered

[Rebeckah11 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much! A good book, but if you are interested in history, as I am, take the time to look at individual events than trying to cover the whole of everything in one go. My mind just switchd off and I'd forgottent the start before I got to the end.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I were grading this as a history assignment I would put it at a C- at best. It is nothing but block quotes stitched together with a bit of the author's own words. A very little bit.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good history of the families that shaped the British Isles. A good history lesson.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

autumn2011
pub 1996
english
history
non fiction
R4x


How many Ethels and derivatives thereof made up Saxon Britain. Answers on a postcard please.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good transcript of the BBC radio series, though not in itself a match for hearing the story.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book! I really learned a lot without wanting to fall asleep thanks to the writing style. Highly recommended for those interested in British history.