The English and their history
by Robert Tombs · first published 2014
4mentions
3recommended by
4HN commenters
2016–2022first – last mentioned
75% recommend25% neutral
"The English and Their History presents the momentous story of England "first as an idea, and then as a kingdom, as a country, a people and a culture." Here, in a single volume, is a fresh and comprehensive account of the English and their history. With extraordinary insight, Robert Tombs examines language, literature, law, religion, politics, and more while investigating the sources of England's collective memory and belief. The English and Their History spans 700,000 years, from the island's very first inhabitants to the present day, stopping along the way to recount the tales of conquerors,
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Agreed. I just finished reading "the English and their history" by Robert Tombs, along with many of the references he uses, and I was frankly shocked at how little revenue from the colonial era was generated abroad. I highly recommend the book to everyone. All of…
"The English and Their History" by Robert Tombs. This isn't simply another "here's what happened" history book. Rather, it focuses not simply on what happened and why it happened, but more so on the stories the English tell themselves…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗For those who are more curious, I found that "The English and their History" talks in depth about the post-Conquest society and emergence of the written English language, and some of the more distinctive English (and later Anglo-American) institutions: https://www.amazon.com/English-Their-History-Robert-Tombs-eb...
on “The Medieval Battle That Launched Modern English” ↗…the Roundheads were reviled by a substantial portion of the British. Cromwell held the Commonwealth together, that's for sure, but the cohesion amongst the Roundheads dried up once he died. Source: The English and their History by Robert Tombs
on “Opponents of Oliver Cromwell published his family recipes” ↗