Great Tales from English History

by Robert Lacey

A feast for history lovers--the whole colorful parade of English history brilliantly captured in a single volume.

From ancient times to the present day, the story of England has been laced with drama, intrigue, courage, and passion. In GREAT TALES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY, Robert Lacey recounts the remarkable episodes that shaped a nation as only a great storyteller can: by combining impeccable accuracy with the timeless drama that has made these tales live for centuries.

This new paperback edition is encyclopedic in scope, gathering together all of Robert Lacey's great tales previously published in three separate hardcover volumes.

The book comprises 154 delectable stories, each brimming with insight, humor, and fascinating detail. Bite-sized history at its best, GREAT TALES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY belongs on every Anglophile's bookshelf.

"An informative, trustworthy distillation, less a debunking than an entertaining, wryly lucid reconstruction of the facts. . . . The tales weave a narrative as finely thatched as an English cottage." -Tennessean

"Eminently readable, highly enjoyable. . . GREAT TALES should appeal to the reader who appreciates individuals and their personalities more than mere mass movements." -St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Beautifully written, full of things you didn't know, and well worth a read if you want a new view on stories you thought you'd already understood." -Living History

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, Historical, Biography, European History, Adult

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Robert Lacey is a British historian noted for his original research, which gets him close to - and often living alongside - his subjects. He is the author of numerous international bestsellers.

After writing his first works of historical biography, Robert, Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Ralegh, Robert wrote Majesty, his pioneering biography of Queen Elizabeth II. Published in 1977, Majesty remains
acknowledged as the definitive study of British monarchy - a subject on which the author continues to write and lecture around the world, appearing regularly on ABC's Good Morning America and on CNN's Larry King Live.

The Kingdom, a study of Saudi Arabia published in 1981, is similarly acknowledged as required reading for businessmen, diplomats and students all over the world. To research The Kingdom, Robert and his wife Sandi took their family to live for eighteen months beside the Red Sea in Jeddah. Going out into the desert, this was when Robert earned his title as the "method actor" of contemporary biographers.

In March 1984 Robert Lacey took his family to live in Detroit, Michigan, to write Ford: the Men and the Machine, a best seller on both sides of the Atlantic which formed the basis for the TV mini-series of the same title, starring Cliff Robertson.

Robert's other books include biographies of the gangster Meyer Lansky, Princess Grace of Monaco and a study of Sotheby's auction house. He co- authored The Year 1000 - An Englishman's World, a description of life at the turn of the last millennium. In 2002, the Golden Jubilee Year of Queen Elizabeth II, he published Royal (Monarch in America), hailed by Andrew Roberts in London's Sunday Telegraph as "compulsively readable", and by Martin Amis in The New Yorker as "definitive".

With the publication of his Great Tales Robert Lacey returns to his first love - history. Robert Lacey is currently the historical consultant to the award-winning Netflix series "The Crown".

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: Lacey’s work is a fun romp through history, though I had are a few minor problems with his choices.

When interpreting a literary work, the reader sometimes must make a distinction between what the author intends and what the author achieves. I think that distinction should be made for Lacey’s work too, as I do not think that they are the same thing.

Let me start by talking about what I believe Lacey intended to achieve in his work. I think he wished to set out great, captivating stories from British history. He carefully picked each one for its interest for the general reader because he wanted to ensure that almost any person would find these tales interesting. His choices were made with a fair eye to his project, and I think he accomplished his goal as an author.

However, as readers we are still allowed to look beyond the project and see what else Lacey accidentally achieved. In no particular order, here are the consequences of Lacey’s choices:

-His work takes on the tone and scope of an informal history of the British Isles. Since he starts at the early age of 7150AD and then progresses through stories that cover the major events of British history, and since he does a fair job of tying those stories together across the ages (the reference notes in the text make it easy to pick up and read any random entry while still getting a pretty good cross-referencing), his work isn’t just Tales from English History it is, rather, the tale of English history. To put that a bit more clearly: If you want to read about the history of England but need a nice starting point to get the overall scope, this is a great volume for you. While the history isn’t by any stretch of the imagination complete (this is simply not his project), it is a nice starting point.

-His work also does a fair job of balancing tales that speak to the brave men and women from English history. As a father of a daughter, I always enjoy finding true tales of brave heroines I can share with her; these serve as great role models for her, and these brave ladies demonstrate what is possible. Lacey chooses interesting tales of women who put themselves in danger for their beliefs. This includes obvious choices like Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, but Lacey also discussed less obvious heroines like Boadicea, Fanny Burney (whose tale of an encounter with cancer is harrowing), Mary Wollstonecraft, and Emily Davison. For a general reader with no knowledge of these women, these tales are welcome additions to the usual male-dominated stories many of us grew up with. In other words, share this book with your daughters.

-Now I want to touch on a bit of criticism. As you have seen, Lacey has done a great job of accomplishing certain feats in his book. I must note that maintaining a classless narrative is not one of them. Lacey’s stories all seem to be about the rich, the powerful, or the tragic. While I understand as an intelligent reader that 1) He had limited space and had to make decisions about what to include and leave out; 2) These are the people who shaped English history the most—while I understand both points, I don’t know if I agree with every choice. For instance, there is no story about the hero-explorer John Smith. Smith was crucial to the foundation of the Jamestown colony, and his adventures are legendary. Lacey does include the story of Pocahontas (or at least a strong mention of her in a story), even though she was native to the New World. To put her story in the book but to leave Smith’s out sounds, to me, a bit like the class-bias that Smith himself faced in his lifetime. Likewise, when discussing the Crystal Palace Lacey concentrates upon the queen and her husband rather than Paxton, the architect (who receives a passing comment), and his extraordinary ascension to the position. I will concede that I have heard Lacey has other books in this series and that perhaps this book intended to cover just the major authors/works, but this still stood out to me as a glaring, strange choice for the book.

-The book also reads well as informal etymology if you are interested in the subject. Keep in mind that this is not the focus of the book, but there are some nuggets in its pages.

-Finally I want to note what I hope is obvious to any potential reader of this book: The stories are short on detail. While reading a few I felt Lacey had missed too much of the real meat of the story. Again, I acknowledge the space constraints at work, but the feeling still tugged at me throughout the book. For anyone who reads a great deal of historical accounts, expect to find at least one story in Lacey’s book that will have you saying, “Yeaaahhhhh…but there’s more to it than that.”

On the whole, I have to heartily recommend Lacey’s work. If you enjoy reading about history, or if you want to just read about English history in short bursts that are easy to digest, this book is for you.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm tempted to give this five stars, since I enjoyed it so much. But, I like to reserve that for near-perfect or otherwise uniquely powerful books, and this one was just a whole lot of fun, so we'll call it 4.5 stars.
Anyway, I can't think of a better way to brush up on your AP European History, and learn some things you didn't know before. Lacey does a fantastic job of re-telling the stories from English history in light of new research and discoveries; setting the record straight in some cases, and indulging in some good-natured speculation in others.
Lacey definitely has the story-teller's eye (ear?) for history, and he doesn't so much make it come alive, as remind you that it all once WAS alive all on its own, and if we don't appreciate that then we're not looking at it the right way.

[Rebecca Morel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, displacing myth from true historical accounts, and covering it all in with flowing intrigue! The timing of its conclusion (it doesn’t reach any mention of Queen Elizabeth or any history of King George the VI outside of WWII) left a bit to be desired I felt, but overall a wonderful reference I’m sure I’ll turn back to.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO much fun! Lacey is one of those rare historians who is both informative and entertaining, and his brief vignettes of the great characters in English history gracefully debunk the legends and provide even more diverting true stories.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not 100% sure why, but it took me FOREVER to finish this book. I thought I would just read a story here and there, eventually chipping away at the book, but sometimes I would go weeks without picking the book up. I'm also a bit sad that there weren't a few more stories before 1066, but I understand that sources are limited. Most people prefer more recent history (at least more recent than 1066), so perhaps the author merely wrote to his audience. I certainly don't know why he excluded what he did, but I could have done with more early Medieval history.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining read, because let's face it truth is stranger than fiction. Due to the sheer number of entries some were more interesting then others but still enjoyable overall.

I would have given this 4 stars but frankly I felt the author got a little preachy in his summations. Give your readers a little credit on being able to decide what is right and wrong.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Particle_Person · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is correct: these are great TALES from English history. It doesn't mean you should believe them! The author has, at best, a passing respect for scholarship and a distant acquaintance with fact checking. He takes the position that it doesn't matter, they're still fun. And they are.

[John David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Lacey originally published “Great Tales from English History” in a series of three separate volumes in 2003, 2005, and 2006 respectively. They were then collected into an omnibus edition in 2007; that’s the one I’m reviewing here.

The full title of Lacey’s book is “Great Tales from English History: A Treasury of True Stories About the Extraordinary People – Knights and Knaves, Rebels and Heroes, Queens and Commoners – Who Made Britain Great”. These long, unwieldy titles tend to be common with popular, sensationalist histories that discuss topics like the salacious sex lives of monarchs. Witness the dozens of similar titles solely devoted to the treatment of Henry VIII’s wives. With that in mind, I approached this with more than a little skepticism.

The book contains maybe 150 chronologically oriented vignettes ranging in time from the discovery of Cheddar Man (who lived around 7,150 B.C.) to Queen Elizabeth II taking the throne, consisting of about two or three pages each. The stories largely follow an arc of the English monarchs from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II but does contain entries about figures outside that time span, including Anglo-Saxon monarchs like King Arthur, Alfred the Great, Aethelred the Unready, Canute, and Edward the Confessor. This is history that you can get in hundreds of other places in much more detail, but the advantage here is that you get a highly condensed compendium of interesting episodes covering a broad swath of history in a single text.

There were a lot of names I didn’t know that Lacey discusses, some of which include the Cheddar Man, Annie Besant, and Elmer the Flying Monk. There were many more whose names I did recognize, but wouldn’t have been able to tell you why they were important or deserving of a place in a book like this, like Richard Whittington (the four-time mayor of London), Robert Recorde (the man who introduced both the equal sign (=) and the plus sign (+) into mathematics) or the Battle of Spion Kop, one of the pivotal conflicts of the Boer Wars.

Because of the touch-and-go nature of the ideas, people and places that are discussed, I’d guess this book will appeal the most to those who are looking for a one-stop shop to gain a superficial understanding of English history. Even the author will admit this is the book’s intended purpose. It’s a hook for those who have spent years finding history boring. Books like that certainly have their place and their audience. But for anyone who wants to really sink their teeth into the complexities of narratives and appreciate more than just a two-page precis, this isn’t the place to look.

Those interested in further reading can use Lacey’s appendix called “Exploring the Original Sources,” which lives up to its name and gives copious primary and secondary resources. One of its downsides is the list of websites listed within it haven’t been edited and because of the book’s age, many of them are out of date or simply don’t exist anymore. For anyone interested in a low-commitment, casual jaunt through English history, this is certainly something to consider.

[Simon Trelawney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Tales from English History
A Treasury of True Stories – The Extraordinary People Who Made Britain Great
by Robert Lacey (Abacus 2007, pb, 523pp)
This is an enjoyable lightweight romp through English history. It is not a continuous narrative but rather a collection of vignettes, with chapters on many of the most notable and celebrated events, described in rough outline and often dispelling myths and misconceptions, with the focus chiefly on people. No chapter is more than a few pages long. It starts with “Cheddar Man” and concludes with DNA via Boadicea, King Alfred, Canute, Chaucer, Dick Whittington, Raleigh, etc. etc. etc. You know the story! It has been woven together from three separate volumes, previously published between 2003 and 2006, though the joins are not obvious. An entertaining volume which could act as an easily digestible introduction to our island story for a newcomer. There are helpful family trees of the various Royal Houses and a lengthy and informative bibliography at the end of the book. Highly recommended.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

In preparation for a trip to the UK this year, I thought I'd read some English history. This book is a collection of stories rather than a book that tries to cover everything, and I enjoyed the format. It made it easy to read a story or two when I had a little time and come back to it after longer breaks without feeling (too) lost. Many of the stories were totally new to me, and ones that I was familiar with often had a new twist. Occasionally there were some confusing parts that I read several times to try to understand what the author was saying, but overall enjoyable.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 4.5 stars, as this is as close to perfect as a history read can get.
You could possibly quibble with some of the stories included or those omitted, but in terms of how Lacey presents his chosen vignettes, no complaint at all. We go on a history lesson that stretches 2000 years, checking in on famous individuals and events. They each get a couple of pages, and Lacey is masterful in distilling the main details into such limited space.
For fans of history, this is like the perfect buffet, and is also a great introduction to novice historians.
Highly recommended.

[Becki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical history book. It doesn’t go into heavy details, but hits on a variety of tidbits throughout English history. It gives a lot of factual information without being bland. Each story is only a few pages long, but the stories will pique your interest and will (hopefully) make you want to learn more about that point in history. If you love to learn about the past and want a lighter read, this is a good one.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically a collection of short vignettes throughout English history. Originally three separate books now one compendium that is mostly about royalty for the first two thirds of the boob with more common people stories in the most recent centuries. Well written and a fun book to get familiar with British history.

[renping · Rating 5 out of 5]

My childhood knowledge of English history was based almost entirely on this book. For a couple months, it was the only reading material I had at all, and the memories associated with reading and rereading it cover to cover in those months have inspired me to all sorts of scholarship. Great Tales of English History made me enjoy history. 10/10

[Lauren Hiebner · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book to read! Lacey’s book contains anecdotes of British history from the 7500 bc Cheddar Man to the 1953 discovery of DNA, the code of life. Truly “a treasury of true stories about the extraordinary people - knights and knaves, rebels and heroes, queens and commoners - who made Britain great”. I highly recommend this reading for anyone interested in British history.

[Susan Liston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to miss this book, I've been reading just a "tale" or two a day, so its been with me for awhile. An easy and entertaining way to digest history...each subject is just 2-4 pages long. I especially liked the first half...prior to the 18th century.

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book, which has ignited my interest in history. This should be on the school syllabus. Compact, entertaining stories from key moments in English history. A pleasure to read, and it has increased my knowledge to boot!

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who really want an "easy" read but enough history to "fill in the blanks", this is the book for you. The author covers England from the VERY beginnings to present day, with each chapter being only one or two pages. This makes it quite simple to read, put down, then pick up without disrupting a thought. Im happy that this was recommended by an English friend.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is well written and well organized. The historical selections were always interesting and engaging. The book is organized into small chapters that are only about 2-4 pages which I really appreciate when reading history. I highly recommend the book.

[Laura Hodgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't finish it but I read quite a few and what I loved was the short length, interesting stories and something I think I might purchase so I can pick it up whenever I want to.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this, my only regret being that there was not more about the average folk of England.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book of short bits of English History. Very easy reading and I liked the way it was set up with short chapters covering many aspects of English History.

[Rebekah Neuner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! History but with a focus on individuals. Made me feel connected with my British ancestors.

[Gadi Nissim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book, especially for those unfamiliar with English history and want their book to be accurate, readable, and entertainable alike.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

550 odd pages of brilliance !! What more can you say for a tome such as this?

[Flyingzebras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It took awhile to read, but the short story format let me take in a little at a time.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting stories throughout English history - a great summary of where culture and traditions come from.

[Dee A. Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a good book. I enjoy English history, so it was a natural fit.

[Emma Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very beginner friendly read into history. I like Lacey's conversational tone and how he will call out the more yikes parts of history that people tend to gloss over. Interesting af