Island Stories
An Unconventional History of Britain
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Island Stories
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Narrated by:
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Philip Stevens
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Written by:
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David Reynolds
About this listen
This history of Britain set in a global context for our times offers a new perspective on how the rise and fall of an empire shaped modern European politics.
When the British voted to leave the European Union in 2016, the country's future was thrown into doubt. So, too, was its past. The story of British history is no longer a triumphalist narrative of expanding global empire, nor one of ever-closer integration with Europe. What is it now?
In Island Stories, historian David Reynolds offers a multi-faceted new account of the last millennium to make sense of Britain's turbulent present. With sharp analysis and vivid human detail, he examines how fears of decline have shaped national identity, probes Britain's changing relations with Europe, considers the creation and erosion of the "United Kingdom", and reassesses the rise and fall of the British Empire. Island Stories is essential listening for anyone interested in global history and politics in the era of Brexit.
©2020 David Reynolds (P)2020 Basic BooksWhat the critics say
"A concise, elegant, and lucid revisiting of key themes in British history in the light of Brexit." (Fintan O'Toole, Guardian)
"This is a splendid book: a clear, well-written, and highly stimulating account of the flaws in our understanding of Britain's past." (Literary Review)
A witty and revealing look at long-term patterns in British history" (Kirkus Reviews)
"[An] incisive survey...[Reynolds'] tour de force through the centuries is aimed at one overarching question that both sides of the Brexit chasm would do well to address: What historical narrative might serve in future as a source of identity, suited to bring together a deeply divided country." (Financial Times)