A History of Britain 2: 1603-1776 – Simon Schama
In 1603, Queen Elizabeth I died and James VI of Scotland became James I of England, uniting the crowns of two kingdoms that had been rivals for centuries. Over the following hundred and seventy years, Britain was transformed by civil war, revolution, religious conflict and the rise of a global empire. In A History of Britain 2: 1603-1776, the second volume of his acclaimed three-part history, also known as The British Wars, historian Simon Schama tells the story of this turbulent period.
Schama begins with the uneasy reign of the Stuart kings and the growing conflict between Charles I and Parliament over religion, taxation and royal power, which erupted into the civil wars that engulfed England, Scotland and Ireland. He describes the battles, the trial and execution of the king in 1649, and the extraordinary experiment of a republic under Oliver Cromwell, including its brutal campaigns in Ireland.
The narrative continues through the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II, the crisis that led to the so-called Glorious Revolution of 1688, when James II was replaced by William and Mary, and the union of England and Scotland in 1707 that created Great Britain. Schama then explores the Jacobite risings, culminating in the defeat at Culloden in 1746, and the growth of trade, commerce and empire, ending with the conflicts that led to the American Revolution.
Written with vivid storytelling, wit and a strong sense of character, the book accompanies Schama’s celebrated BBC television series and brings to life kings, rebels, soldiers, preachers and ordinary people.
A History of Britain is an engaging read for anyone interested in British history. It contains descriptions of war and violence.
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