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Overview
Written by one of the most brilliant and provocative historians at work today, The Isles is a revolutionary narrative history that presents a new perspective on the development of Britain and Ireland, looking at them not as self-contained islands, but as an inextricable part of Europe.This richly layered history begins with the Celtic Supremacy in the last centuries BC, which is presented in the light of a Celtic world stretching all the way from Iberia to Asia Minor. Roman Britain is seen not as a unique phenomenon but as similar to the other frontier regions of the Roman Empire. The Viking Age is viewed not only through the eyes of the invaded but from the standpoint of the invaders themselves--Norse, Danes, and Normans. In the later chapters, Davies follows the growth of the United Kingdom and charts the rise and fall of the main pillars of 'Britishness'--the Royal Navy, the Westminster Parliament, the Constitutional Monarchy, the Aristocracy, the British Empire, and the English Language.
This holistic approach challenges the traditional nationalist picture of a thousand years of "eternal England"--a unique country formed at an early date by Anglo-Saxon kings which evolved in isolation and, except for the Norman Conquest, was only marginally affected by continental affairs. The result is a new picture of the Isles, one of four countries--England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales--constantly buffeted by continental storms.
Editorials
Alan Colley
Norman Davies possesses remarkable range, massive gusto and a spanking literary stule. His ability to synthesize vast amounts of specialized material, to draw out arresting examples and comparisons, and to combine political, demographic, environmental and cultural analysis is always impressive, and he enjoys the enviable gift of intellectual certainty...No one tackling this mega-volume can fail to enjoy it or fail to learn a great deal.—Times Literary Supplement
Ralph Buultjens
Read it with discretion, dip in here and there, gather the principle threads, peruse the conclusions—and you are guaranteed a wonderful time. You will also get know a great deal about a fascinating part of the world, its rise and fall. We can't say this about too many books nowadays.—The Boston Book Review