The English and Their History

The ponderous task of chronicling the history of a nation as storied and ancient as England does not daunt author Robert Tombs; Tombs covers all the key aspects in his novel approach that focuses on the development of the collective English cultural heritage and national identity. The work is less of a history book, and more of a profoundly enjoyable and enlightening journey that traces the emergence of an English consciousness.

Do not avoid this book because of its titanic size! This is, undoubtedly, the most efficient way to learn the most about England from prehistory to the present, mostly because Tombs avoids any extraneous exposition and because he takes care to detail the exact repercussions and causes of crucially important moments, which allows one to easily grasp the overall timeline. Also enjoyable is the break from the too-common trend of critiquing historical characters for actions that do not align with our modern, Western concepts of morality; the text scrupulously frames events within their proper contemporary context.

The work, as a whole, is given a gripping coherence by the exploration of the developing English self-concept. Everyone should know English history, and this is the best way to learn it.