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A History of Britain: The Wars of the British
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Plot Summary of A History of Britain: The Wars of the British
"The second volume of Schama's history takes Britain from 1603 (the death of Elizabeth I, ascendance of James I) to the end of the American Revolution and the takeover of the Indian subcontinent. The petty, bloody, vicious treatment that English people suffered at their own hands (to say nothing of the Irish and Scottish wars) through the era of Cromwell and the Restoration receive plenty of attention, but Schama also gives a vivid picture of the slave trade and Caribbean sugar plantations, and the bewildering politics of the origins of the Raj. Our "French and Indian War" (really a near-world war fought between Britain and France for future colonial dominance on at least four different continents) and the genesis of the American Revolution receive good coverage as well. Engagingly written with plenty of illustrations, but not quite enough maps."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of A History of Britain: The Wars of the British
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Kind Of History
Time of history: - 18th century - 17th century
History of military? Yes
Armed Forces: - Army - Navy - Mercenaries
History of a people? Yes
Nationality? - British
Specific war? - Revolutionary War (US)

Subjects of this Historical Account
Religion? (if plays a major part) - Protestants!
Ethnicity (if plays a major part) - European/White
Is the portrayal sympathetic? - Somewhat sympathetic

Main Adversary
Religion? (if plays a major part) - Catholics!
Nationality? - French

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Europe Yes
European country: - Ireland - England/UK
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - India
If applicable, liberal/conservative? - Historian is moderately liberal

Style
Part of a series? Yes
How much gore? - 4 (a fair amount)
How fast-paced is the book? - 4 (a fair amount)
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths
Book makes you feel... - thoughtful
How much focus on stories of individuals? - Focuses mostly on history of key players
How much romance? - 2 (a little)
Is book humorous? Yes
How much humor? - 2 (a little)
If humorous, kind of humor - Dry-cynical
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references
Minor characters feature lots of: - military
Pictures/Illustrations? - A lot
Maps necessary? - Not enough maps
Length of book - 450 pages+
How much emphasis on small details? - 3 (some)
Most similar books to A History of Britain: The Wars of the British
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The First World War by John Keegan
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Castles of Steel by Robert K. Massie
Echoes of Armageddon by B. Cory Kilvert Jr.


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