This Sceptred Isle: Twentieth Century - Softcover

Lee, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140276017 ISBN 13: 9780140276015

Publisher: Penguin, 2000

Synopsis

The eagerly awaited sequel to THIS SCEPTERED ISLE, a paperback bestseller. This new volume tells the story of the twentieth century. Lee looks back on the extraordinary changes that have occurred in Britain in the last 100 years. He provides a comprehensive and entertaining overview of the key political, cultural, social and economic events as well as highlighting the scientific innovations that have helped secure Britain's reputation as a key player on the world stage.

About this title

Review:

To form a view of where Britain is at today, and indeed when it has been here before, take a look at This Sceptred Isle--Twentieth Century, sequel to the award-winning earlier text This Sceptred Isle,covering the Romans to Queen Victoria. The writer is a specialist in contemporary and military history who has aimed this book specifically at the general reader. The style is almost conversational and the comment circumspect, taking care to view actions in the context of their times. Organised chronologically, chapters on each decade are sub-divided into a section for each year, so that the book may be used as a reference tool and need not necessarily be read cover to cover--beneficial in what is a long text not broken by illustrations.

The coverage includes major world events and extends to sport, the arts and medicine. Also recorded are diverting details of everyday life, such as the appearance of the board game Monopoly and the first advertisement on British television. Containing more fact than philosophy, presenting opinions without being opinionated and taking the spin out of politics, Twentieth Century reports 100 years of unrest and fast-paced change and yet clearly expresses that our problems are not new and that in some significant ways the 20th century ends as it began. --Karen Tiley

Synopsis:

Written to accompany the award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, this readable history looks back on the extraordinary events in Britain of the 20th century. The turbulent 20th century, the "fastest moving century of all", has seen a whirlwind of change in medicine, travel, communications and social equality, which has transformed the lives of ordinary people. We have witnessed two world wars, women's emancipation, the end of colonial rule, the indelible impact of the Thatcher years and the recent explosion of technology and the mass media. "This Sceptred Isle: Twentieth Century" is interesting reading for anyone wanting to find out more about the Britain of the last few generations.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0140276017
• ISBN 13: 9780140276015
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512