yanshida

Simon Schama is not a revisionist; he's a reviver; a magical veterinarian, who has resuscitated a dead horse. And that's not simple. Kudos to Simon Schama and his fabulous series. A History of Britain is exactly that: a history, not the history. It's entertaining, exactly what the teaching of history should be; it bakes, rendering couch potatoes unstrung; and it's downright riveting. The BBC have always produced the best in documentary programming, and A History of Britain does not disappoint. If you have to beg, borrow or steal, it is highly recommended that anyone with half a brain dash off and purchase this jewel. Thank you and goodnight.

I sat riveted throughout most of the programmes. Granted I did find Mr. Cruickshanks whispering a bit tiresome at times, but then I'm a bit deaf. I have a hearing aid, but I can't stand wearing it. One thing, either Mr. Cruickshanks or his researchers didn't to their homework was his visit to the Summer Palace in Beijing. The Yiheyuan, the Summer Palace he visited, wasn't destroyed by Anglo-French forces. It was the Mingheyuan - the one that contained remarkable buildings done in the European style. However, I relished Mr. Cruikshanks' comment about how frustrating it is to deal with Chinese officials. I bet when the powers-that-be in Beijing watched this series, the veins on their foreheads must have practically exploded with rage. Here is a top-notch series showing the treasures of the world. Most officials and governments allowed the BBC easy access, but no, some asinine official in Beijing, did his utmost to deprive the BBC of this courtesy. In the end, he cut off his nose to spite his face; this in a world where face is everything.