Fifty Things You Need To Know About British History

by Hugh Williams

What are the 50 key events you need to understand to grasp British history?

If you could choose the 50 things that define British history, events of significance not only in themselves, but in their importance to wider themes running through our past, what would they be? Hugh Williams has made that selection, and the result is a fascinating overview of Britain’s past.

He refines British history into a series of key themes that represent a crucial strand in our history, and pinpoints the seminal events within those strands - Roots, from the Roman invasion to Britain’s entry into the Common Market; Fight, Fight and Fight Again, from the Battle of Agincourt to the Falklands War; The Pursuit of Liberty, from the Magna Carta through the Glorious Revolution to the foundation of the NHS; Home and Abroad, from Sir Francis Drake and Clive of India to the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush; and All Change, from Chaucer and the English language to the invention of the jet engine.

With great clarity, simplicity and a zest for the marvellous stories that underpin many of these events, Hugh Williams explains the linkage between each one and its importance in the progress of British history as a whole. Along the way, he has some fascinating tales to tell, making this a highly enjoyable read as well as a perceptive insight into our shared past, and vital for anyone who wants quickly and enjoyably to grasp the essential facts about Britain’s history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical, British Literature

383 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

British chartered accountant, author and politician.

Williams was educated at Eton College and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1970. He set up his own accountancy practice in 1973, first at a small farm on Dartmoor, moving to Plympton in 2001.

Williams is a member of the United Kingdom Independence Party.

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Williams did a pretty good job with his basic coverage of British history. It's not a bad introduction I think for someone who doesn't know that much about it.

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! If like me you maybe were passing notes, daydreaming or looking out the window in Mr. Hoovers history class (he was so old he was there when a lot of this stuff happened) then this is the book for you. It's well written, clear, concise and easy to read. I just returned from my first trip to London and I'm fascinated by British history but I was so overwhelmed I didn't know where to start. This was a great start and now I'm ready to delve further into the events that really interested me.Peter Ackroyd's London The Biography is next on the list.

[Tracy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've read all year. We did spend a week in London this spring so that made British history very interesting to me. I also learned some American history in this book. The short chapters on each historic highlight keep it moving along. I'm going to go back and read more about some of my favorite topics. The author does a brilliant job of writing this book for a contemporary audience.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was great it allows you a brief insight into history without it being to in-depth and makes you want to read more about a particular person or subject.
I would definitely recommend this for someone starting out on history especially if there not sure on what to read,I used it for that same purpose and found it very informative and interesting.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous. A great way to present British history through 5 themes, which really compliments all the other in depth histories I've read. Really easy to read, engaging and entertaining.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining. A good choice to keep stashed for reading while waiting in long lines, parking lots, etc. Starts at a much earlier era in history than I expected (which was good)!

[Roger Siefert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you agree with the 50 things Williams selected, I found his narrative about the 50 events he selected to be well written and engaging.

[John Poulain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good background and whistlestop tour of British History. Covering much more than the 1066 and Henry the VIII that seemed to be the only British History in the UK Curriculum.

[Brian Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great informational book

[Norain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugh Williams was a nationalist or patriotic, to say the least. He had pride in his Britain and stated it out clearly and this book was written as an ‘alternative’ to the plenty criticism out there about British colonialism etc. I did not agree with everything he said but he wrote very well; his narration was coherent, his descriptions of battles fought was vivid and he spiced up the whole thing with bits of personal reminiscent that were neither too little they stood out like a sore thumb and made you wonder why the heck he told us about himself, nor too much they drove you up the wall. So whatever, I loved this book.

[russell barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good canter through British History, nicely pitched at a entry-level audience with plenty of action and facts corralled into five narrative strands linking the ages together. Quite what it was doing on my legendarily boffinish father-in-laws shelf I'm not sure, but it was a pretty good find and would be a good primer for anybody who kids are about embark on some sort of historical GCSEs. If they still exist...

[Roddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did very little history at school (vaguely remember sometjing about The Picts and the Russian Revolution) and I'm now trying to make amends. Well written and attractively short chapters meant that this was right up my street. My eyes still start glazing over in the 17th century though.....too many names and family feuds!

[Roisín · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your interested in British History this is a very good base book to begin with. Although I knew a lot of the contents already I still learnt a lot. I really enjoyed the style of writing how it was laid out easy to read.