For those of us who believe that the Enlightenment values that have held Europe and America together for 400 years remain our best defence in the struggle with Islamic terrorist unreason, Roberts should not be permitted so crudely to limit the debate to either signing up to the Bush crusade or accepting the white feather.

The work focuses primarily on military and political history and pays far less attention to the minutia of social development, which is perhaps an inevitable consequence of the substantial time period it covers. The second volume details Britain's relationship to the cultural Renaissance and the religious Reformation that gripped Europe in the sixteenth century. He proceeds to describe the English Civil War in the seventeenth century and Britain's brief experiment with Republicanism. He then details the efforts of King James II to restore Catholicism to Britain and his subsequent defeat at the Battle of the Boyne by the Protestant William of Orange, in 1688. Roberts is eloquent on the great moments of courage and defiance by Presidents and Prime Ministers and by many other now forgotten men - except for Margaret Thatcher, there is scarcely a woman mentioned - in the desperate circumstances of his grand narrative. Here is one of the great books of our age, Winston Churchill's most ambitious work and the crowning achievement of his career. His theme is a noble one, worthy of the great purpose and imaginative scope of its author:The simultaneous four-volume U.S. first edition is certainly less stately in appearance, though in our opinion perhaps excessively maligned as being an unattractive edition. Churchill's four volume epic, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, was published between 1956 and 1958. The work traces a sweeping historical arc from Roman Britain through the end of the Nineteenth Century. Volumes I & II deal primarily with Britain and her rise to become a world power, including early colonization of North America. Volume III necessarily broadens in scope, covering 1668 to 1815, including the American Revolution and the defeat of Napoleon. Volume IV covers 85 years of the Nineteenth Century, ending with the death of Queen Victoria. Perhaps not conincidentally, this is the very year that saw Churchill conclude his first North American lecture tour, take his first seat in Parliament, and begin to make history himself. This final of Churchill's great, multi-volume works spawned many single-volume spinoffs in the form of excerpted works that have become collectible in their own right. These include The American Civil War (1961), The Island Race (1964) , Heroes of History (1968), and Joan of Arc (1969). My effort to step outside my comfort zone due to Jeff's kind remark. My apology for the length, however I can assure you it's not as long as the book!

My previous study has concentrated on the religious history of Britain ("church history" in seminary, and personal reading since then). I was a bit surprised at what seemed a minimal treatment of that critical and defining aspect of Britain's history. This book does not seek to rival the works of professional historians. It aims rather to present a personal view on the processes whereby English-speaking peoples throughout the world have achieved their distinctive position and character. I write about the things in our past that appear significant to me and I do so as one not without some experience of historical and violent events in our own time. I use the term 'English-speaking peoples' because there is no other that applies both to the inhabitants of the British Isles and to those independent nations who derive their beginnings, their speech, and many of their institutions from England, and who now preserve, nourish, and develop them in their own ways." In Volume III we enter into the unrest to the 13 Colonies; unrest that had previously lay within embers smoldering until kindle had been placed to the stove. The Revolution of 1688 and later a war with Spain had forced a different focus upon Britain an ocean away. All the while, it was apparent that Colonists in America were learning how to thrive in a vast untamed wilderness with Native Americans or First Nation civilizations. It is a rather fascinating read to see the interpretations of Sir WSC. He gives credit where it is due of course; however, he introduces us to the concerns of the Parliament and King George III. Another fascinating point is that by the time we move from King George I who could speak no English to his grandson George III we are witness Hanoverian methodology of the throne that is never quite authentic “British”. A smugness of sorts seems to have existed – this is my American interpretation of course and is not designed to infuriate national feelings of any sort – these are after all Sir WSC’s words that I interpret. Assizes -one of the periodic court sessions formerly held in each of the counties of England and Wales for the trial of civil or criminal cases;

About the contributors

I do not normally choose to read a condensed version of any book, but this is the one that happened to show up in my personal library, so ... Anyway, some of my impressions might not apply perfectly (or at all) to the full version. Sir Winston S. Churchill, who himself made history as Prime Minister of Great Britain twice, twice (1940–45 and 1951–55.) He began the book in 1939 and delivered the book prior to the outbreak of WWII to his publisher with about half a million words. This book was finally published in 1956. However, this book, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Volume I, The Birth of Britain, was the one I read and finally, finished. Sir Winston S. Churchill has been rightfully penned as the “Last Lion” (William Manchester) and if this is the case then certainly the “First Lion” would have to be King Henry II (the “Coeur de Lion” is King Richard I). King Henry II legacy is lasting in terms of organization and of the continuance of the British Commonwealth today. The masterpiece of Sir Winston S. Churchill work lays the foundation for the persons who are interested to pursue new interest along old lines – I personally have discovered many topics of interest now and I wish to study deeper, and learn in a fashion that is both eager and willing in the new forthcoming journey of our collective History.