A fun, entertaining journey through English history. Lacey uses a story driven narrative weaving together 43 short biographies (most around 4 to 5 pages in length) to tell the tale of how England came to be. Monarchs, and warriors, poets and priests, scientists and scribes: they all have their role to play, and their stories are engagingly told. ( )

I read many of these tales when I was a child, so these are almost all reminders. It was enjoyable to be reminded. This book is modern, and so it draws parallels with the current events of its time which an earlier book would not have done. This is not illuminating, but is interesting, since the author is English, and English politics looms larger in his legend. ( )

Potted history, easy to digest, with worthwhile nuggets of information ( )

This was a very accessible volume. The book is divided into short stories, chronologically for the most part, about the characters that make history. Legend is treated firmly, but sympathetically, and everywhere that primary sources can be quoted they certainly are.

I found this book both entertaining and informative. The bibliography in the back was quite extensive, and I was rather happy to see that it included some of the books that I've been using for reference.

I'd recommend this to anyone with even an inkling of historical curiosity, as I do believe that it would be a good "gateway" book to get people in a scholarly mind. I've the next two books in the series as well, so here's looking to more history. ( )

In many ways it is a depressing fact that we put so little value on literature and books in general. Whilst the latest pot boiler/romantic clap trap sells, brand new, for exorbitant amounts; even the best books may be purchased for a pittance from either a car boot sale, or internet retailers. There is one web based emporium that seems to provide books at less than the cost of postage!

The ability to pick up works in this way for so little is a blessing, to me personally but, it does have one draw back. Buying in this manner does not allow for the flick through pre-judgement given to a book which one holds in one's mitt. This is my excuse for recently purchasing this book which, is clearly meant for someone who has seen many fewer summers than I. My excuse for starting to read same is that I am mean. My excuse for finishing same, ...... I don't have one. I simply found it a delight to read.

In a series of little stories, taking the reader from pre-history to the Peasants' Revolt, Mr Lacey provides numerous fascinating snippets (did you know that the word Britain means land of the painted people - from our penchant for wearing woad?)

This book should be a standard text book for school history. It would entertain the youngsters and bring them a sense of history at the same time. I am willing to bet that take up of places in history based subjects upon the curriculum would increase a hundred fold over a few years! Oh, and if your favourite on line seller has a copy of this book for pennies, and you share my historical knowledge of too many summers, buy it anyway! ( )