When it Happened in Britain

by George Chamier

This is a whistle-stop tour through 2,000 years of our nation's story from the Roman invasion to the Falklands War. Setting out the wide sweep of British history that is often ignored, historian George Chamier weaves together a reader-friendly combination of key dates with linking narrative. Here are all our good Kings and usurpers, low dealings and acts of heroism, moments of great conquest, empire or defeat - and through it all the story of the formation of the United Kingdom. All told in lively and amusing short chapters, this is the perfect book for the person who can never quite remember the key dates in British history or feels exasperated that their friends and family are so ignorant of British history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

220 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2009

About the author

George Chamier was partly brought up in Ross-shire and educated at Eton and the universities of Cambridge and Lancaster. After seven years as an advertising executive in London and Amsterdam, he became a full-time fisherman in the Highlands for twelve years, having first learned the art of net and coble fishing for salmon as a schoolboy. George retired as Head of History at Bradfield College in 2005 and now lives in London, working as a tutor and editor. Until 2018 he spent at least a month every summer fishing on the Cromarty Firth. His previously published works include When it Happened in Britain and When it Happened in Scotland (both Constable), The First Light, a history of Innerpeffray, Scotland’s oldest lending library, and Britain’s Greatest Prime Ministers (Endeavour Press). ‘Cold Iron’, an article about the fishing, appeared in Archipelago magazine.

Reviews

[Tom B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent overview of British history that could do with a few more details explaining events, certainly given the amount of half-empty pages and redundant illustrations.

[Sancaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

bite-sized crumbs of bloody good ol' britain's history. a good, quick reference for those who love history but don't want to deal with the details. love this quote from the book: drunk for a penny, dead drunk for twopence... *hic!*...

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful and quick read that teaches a lot.

It was entertaining for a foreigner like me, I learnt a lot.
I've only had problems with the political parts, because I have no knowledge of the parties at all, so some things did not make any sense to me. But apart from this, this book is great!

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a book for children, yet useful for a quick (or occasional read) to keep the main outline of British history in one's head.

Quite good.

Favourite part: some of the pictures add to what is put in text in a clever way.

[Noahmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

charmful and fun book that teaches a great deal.

[Angela Reeves · Rating 1 out of 5]

dull