The Story of Britain (Dillon) and A Short History of England (Jenkins)

 History readings can be broadly categorized as "breadth" or "depth" selections. Both have value, of course. Personally, I like to begin with the former, getting a high-level view of a nation over hundreds of years, and then delving in to the latter to focus on events or people that pique my curiosity. I've recently completed two breadth selections, so similar that they can be reviewed together:

The Story of Britain (Patrick Dillon)
A Short History of England (Simon Jenkins)

First, the similarities: both are recent efforts, published in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Both clock in at 350 pages (plus or minus a few), which is short when you consider they cover 2000 years of history. Both make sure they cover the highlights of each age, summarizing both the famous events and people with which many have at least a rudimentary familiarity. Each follows a familiar pattern: a brief discussion of Roman Britain at the time of Christ, followed by the Anglo-Saxon invasions (~500AD), the Viking incursions (~800AD), and Norman conquest (1066). From there they discuss history by monarch, from William the Conqueror through present day, though the focus shifts more towards parliament as the monarchy saw itself take an increasingly ceremonial role.

Now, on to the differences. The Story of Britain covers a bit more of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland (though still focusing on England), while A Short History of England makes it clear from the beginning that England alone is the focus, making little mention of the other lands. The former is very segmented, giving each topic a page or two of treatment with a clear header; the latter is more free-flowing and covers slightly broader time periods (and multiple events) in, on average, 10 pages (still easily digestible segments). The Story of Britain is told in story style, almost as though it is to be read to an older child at bedtime; I was in turn appreciative and annoyed at the approach. A Short History of England is delivered in a more traditional fashion, though still easy to read.

Short works will, by their nature, be light on details, and as such there were times I felt they cut a little too much out. But, overall, both selections are worthwhile reads, and accomplished their objective of delivering an overview of the history of England (and, to a lesser extent, Britain) in a readable fashion. I now know which periods interest me most, and thus I can better hone my future studies on those eras. As a final benefit, I now feel slightly educated on the topic, and anticipate enjoying the culture and touring that much more.

Rating (for both): A-

Downfall

Downfall shows the Third Reich in its final days, with Russia closing in on Berlin as Hitler and his cronies sit in a bunker and await the end. The focus, perhaps naturally, is on Hitler; specifically, his increasingly erratic and irrational behavior, his rants towards his commanders and the German people in general, and his final moments. But it's not just about him- you see a range of emotions and reactions from his advisors and the civilian population of the city.

Overall, it is an excellent film. There are some poignant, disturbing moments throughout, as you see Hitler (and others) deal with imminent defeat in horrifying ways. Hitler's secretary (still living as of the movie's production) introduces and concludes the film, as her experience with him in the bunker was the primary source material. It's a tad on the long side, at 2.5 hours, but well worth it.

Rating: A

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table (Roger Lancelyn Green)

In the Author's Note preceding the main text, Green states that his goal for retelling the Arthur legend is to weave separate stories from several ancient authors into a flowing narrative. In so doing, he includes "all the best-known adventures . . . of the most famous knights of the Round Table." That's the strength of this version- it's a good introduction to the myriad of knights and adventures revolving around the Arthur legend. Sadly, that's about the only benefit here. The intended audience is children, and for that reason the prose is fast-flowing, but it lacks suspense, is tremendously repetitive, and is (sadly) of little interest. Written in 1953, today's children (and adults) will have a slight bit of difficulty following some of the terminology and wording. The aforementioned value as an introduction/comprehensive overview is the only thing saving this from a failing grade. If you're interested in Arthur, I'd pick up T.H. White's Once and Future King or Cornwell's trilogy well before this one.

Rating: C-

Surprised by Joy (CS Lewis)

I suffered two great disadvantages as I read this work, both of which tempered my enjoyment of Surprised by Joy:
1) I'm not British, and thus not overly familiar with their customs (Lewis speaks much of his school experiences, using terms and describing environments with which I had no familiarity)
2) I'm not a literature or philosophy expert, and have little background in either (Lewis references many authors and ideas throughout that I didn't recognize)

The basic outline is Lewis telling of his early life, and his thought processes/philosophies during that time that shaped his initial falling away from, and later return to, Christianity. The book seems to be part autobiography, with some experiences seeming to have little or no bearing on his main point, and part philosophical/religious work discussing the main topic. Perhaps he felt he needed to relay so much of the former to convey the latter; I believe he could have condensed things a bit.

This is no light work; his sentences can be packed with meaning, complex wording, and references many may not understand, myself included. In that sense, I was disappointed. However, he redeems himself often, with valuable insights on life and religion, and a refreshing honesty as he looks at himself and judges both his actions and perspectives as containing both foolish and wise components. Consider his recounting of his final conversion- he calls himself "the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England." Here is a learned scholar who feels compelled to believe- not in spite of science or rational ideas, but because of them. Here is a person who believes, not with great fits of emotion, but with a realization that there can be no other. His recounting of that experience adds value here. Those with heavy literature/philosophy backgrounds will perhaps rate this higher; for me, it's a good, not great, work. Those seeking easier Lewis reads would do well to start with the Screwtape Letters or Chronicles of Narnia.

Rating: B

On Star Wars Novels

Just some of the Star Wars books out there . . . and no, this is not my shelf

 Having briefly introduced my interest in Star Wars in general, I now discuss the world of Star Wars novels. I focus only on those works written for adults- I'm not familiar with, nor interested in, the children/young adult stories.

To date, over 140 Star Wars novels have been published. The first, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, was released in 1978. There was a lull of some time, but in 1991, Timothy Zahn launched an era of Star Wars lore that has yet to abate. His Thrawn Trilogy- Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command - made the bestseller lists, and ever since, Star Wars novels have been produced at a tremendous clip: about 7 novels have been produced each year for the last two decades.

Since there are now so many in print, they're officially organized in categories, each of which is referenced to the Battle of Yavin, the final battle in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. "Before Battle of Yavin" (BBY) or "After Battle of Yavin" (ABY) designators commonly used and presented here, holding true for both the novels and comic books:

25,000-1,000 years BBY: Sith Era

Explores life in the Old Republic, when the Sith and Jedi alike were numerous, and safe hyperspace travel lanes were still being discovered.

1,000-0 years BBY: Rise of the Empire Era

This era includes the prequel movies, Episodes I-III, and chronicles (among other things) how the Old Republic fell, and became the Empire.

0-5 years ABY: Rebellion Era

The era with which most Star Wars fans are most familiar, this time span includes Episodes IV-VI, and shows how the Rebellion overthrew the Empire, culminating in the final battle at Endor, as seen in Return of the Jedi.

5-25 years ABY: New Republic Era

After overthrowing the Empire, a New Republic was formed. Remnants of the Empire remained, however, and so in this era, many of the works revolve around the New Republic being established and battling what's left of the Emperor's cronies.

25-39 years ABY: New Jedi Order Era

In the New Jedi Order era, extra-galactic invaders- the Yuuzhan Vong- come to the galaxy in a total takeover attempt. They "shake things up" and cause the New Republic to fail; in its ashes, the Galactic Federation for Free Alliances rises. Their story is told over a 19-book story arc; the longest Star Wars storyline ever produced.

40+ years ABY: Legacy Era

After the Yuuzhan Vong are defeated, the galaxy looks very different- Alliances shift; new empires arise. Two 9-book arcs have been produced in this era (with the latter arc set to have its final book released in 2 days).

Final Thoughts:

Of the 140, I've read just over 80. I won't inundate the blog with individual reviews on all; where possible, I'll review the multi-novel story arcs, trilogies, and/or the "best of" each era. For a good list of novels, check out here.

All Creatures Great and Small (James Herriot)

All Creatures Great and Small is a compilation of two of Herriot's earlier works. His stories focus on his experience as a young vet beginning his career in the 1940s Yorkshire Dales, and are in turn amusing, heartwarming, and insightful. I thought, being an electrical engineer, that I'd be unable to relate to or fully appreciate his accounts- I was dead wrong. Though different in letter, his work-related encounters are eerily similar in spirit, and remind me that, regardless of vocation, we all share similar joys, trials, amusements, and comical encounters with idiosyncratic colleagues in our careers and lives.
I began reading assuming that the story was simply a truthful recollection of his life. I've since found that Herriot tweaked some narratives as suited his fancy; in other cases, he changed the names of towns and people, or merged several locales/characters he knew into one entity, to suit the story. So, his tales are based on truth, but the actual events may have differed. The chapters are generally short, and not necessarily connected with the previous- making it both easy to read in sections, and frustrating if you prefer a well-flowing, connected narrative (later chapters do, at times, reference previous ones, but it seems more like journal entries than a continuous tale). Once I got used to the style, I enjoyed it more.
Overall, this is a good read, especially if you live in Yorkshire and are familiar with the scenery and people of the Dales.
Rating: A-

Fatherland (Robert Harris)

The tagline on the cover of Fatherland sets the basis for the story: "What if Hitler had won?" Set in 1964, in a victorious German Reich, it features a German policeman investigating a string of murders in Berlin that lead him to some disturbing truths about the Nazis . . . and it's not hard to guess what those truths are.

This thriller is well-written, especially given that the history of that time is so well known. Thus, the suspense is not in the reader determining the truth; it's in the policeman's journey to do so, and his struggle to get the truth out of a highly-censored police state.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. In addition to the suspense, it paints a picture of how a victorious Nazi regime might have ruled Europe- terrifying stuff. In many cases, it also uses historical figures (even minor ones) and documents throughout, creating an authentic atmosphere. As a final bonus, I found the ending (without giving too much away) to be non-formulaic, satisfying, and . . . bittersweet. I'll leave it at that.

Rating: A

On Star Wars

Since I can remember, I've been a Star Wars fan. As such, I'll be reviewing the stories, and so an introduction is merited.

The Star Wars saga has become such a phenomena that the tale is told continually through a variety of media. Most are familiar with the movies, but books (over 125 to date, not counting children's literature), comic books (hundreds through the years), TV shows (on season 4 and counting), and even video games contribute to the canon. Few other franchises have "invaded" each category so thoroughly. George Lucas keeps a tight hold on the overall story, so each new piece- regardless of media- fits into the story with little/no discontinuity. In some cases, the same story is presented in several ways (book, comic, and video game, for example), enabling you to process the story in different ways and enjoy the advantages each medium allows.

Believe it or not, Star Wars is not science fiction. It's been described more accurately as "space fantasy" or "space opera;" definitely not sci-fi. So, if you're into fantasy or adventure, this universe may appeal to you more than you'd think.

While most Star Wars stories are far from high literature, they do hold value. The stories are light reading and generally entertaining, if nothing else. There's also a certain innocence to the works- they are mostly PG, with the occasional stray into PG-13 territory. They don't contain foul language, explicit violence, or sex, making them safe choices for readers across the spectrum.

The main drawbacks are the relative predictability of the stories (basic plots/etc), the nigh invincibility of the main cast, and the time commitment (if you're the "collector" type that has to have it all). I decided long ago that I wasn't going to attempt to consume each new offering- so I pick and choose. In future posts, I'll review the releases that held the most value, in my eyes.

In conclusion, partaking in the Star Wars universe is a light and enjoyable endeavor, recommended for the fantasy fan of all ages, as long as you set your expectations correctly.

Brimham Rocks

Brimham Rocks, located in Yorkshire, is an fun curiousity. From the main website, it's a collection of "weird and wonderful rock formations," situated just east of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and on a hill commanding beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

As I've traveled throughout Europe, I find that many destinations offer so much to see and experience, that it can easily become stressful (if you're like me, and have the desire to "not miss out"). Brimham Rocks is simple, and just . . . fun. You go, pay a few GBP for parking (free for National Trust members), and get to play on a giant natural rock playground with great scenery and fascinating nooks and crannies. Scramble over the rocks, climb/boulder around the place, have a picnic, or just enjoy the views. If you live in Yorkshire, it's a great day out, and suitable for kids of most ages (if they can walk well, they'll like it). For maximum enjoyment, pick a day with good visibility and little wind- and don't forget the camera.

The official website is here.

Rating: A

Mort (Terry Pratchett)

Terry Pratchett occupies a unique niche: fantasy humor. His novels are set on discworld, which is (in his words) "a world not totally unlike our own, except that it is a flat disc carried on the backs of four elephants astride a giant turtle floating through space . . ." That description give you a taste of the flavor of Pratchett's works. He mixes in such absurdities with dashes of insight on life, all wrapped in an amusing story. In this particular case, the subject is Death. Mort is a human, chosen by Death to be his assistant, and as such, Mort gains insight into the pros and cons of the job, as well as many other aspects of life. Hilarity ensues. Sort of.

Growing up, I read a lot of humorist Dave Barry. Reading his works would often induce in me a fit of hysterics. Pratchett is certainly in the same vein, but not nearly as funny. Yes, there are certainly amusing parts to the story, witty one-liners, and delightful absurdities. But at no point did I laugh out loud, nor did I find his insights that earth-shattering. Overall, I appreciate the effort, but just didn't enjoy it enough to read any more of the discworld saga.

I'll end on a brighter note, for I don't want to be too harsh. The one insight I did find worthwhile was a theme that came up several times in the book- "people just don't see what their mind tells them isn't there." That's certainly true in the realm of opinion- as Simon & Garfunkel state, "a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest"- but I never contemplated that it may also be true in the purely visible realm as well. There are those who claim, for example, that some people can see ghosts, and others can't, simply because the former believe in the possibility, and the latter don't. Is that true? Possibly. I'm tired, and my desire to think on such matters is waning quickly. Bottom line: if you're into fantasy, and want to try a change of pace, give Pratchett a go; but don't be too optimistic.

Rating: B-

The Winter King, Enemy of God, and Excalibur (Bernard Cornwell)

 I didn't realize until recently just how many people have written versions of the King Arthur legend over the years. As an earlier post states, there are hundreds of iterations, written from 1136 to the present day. Most of them are highly "Britainized," "Christianized," and romanticized accounts. They portray Arthur as king of the Britains (England, Scotland, Wales), a good Christian, and full of fantastic adventures (the quest for the grail) and creatures (the questing beast). Arthur, basically, is the first superhero, a medieval Superman, his legend growing with each new adventure.

Cornwell takes a slightly different approach. As a predominantly historical fiction writer, he bases this trilogy in history. He tries to reconcile history with legend, attempting to be as true as possible to both. For example, his trilogy is based on the following concepts:

- Arthur would have been a true Briton (the modern Welsh), fighting the Anglo-Saxons (the modern English)
- He was likely a heathen, not a Christian, in a time where Christianity was just coming to Britain
- Merlin and other "wizards" would have been druids
- There would have been no round table, quests for the grail, etc.

Admittedly, the recorded history of that era (the 480s) is so minimal that Cornwell makes no attempt to claim historical accuracy- he does the best he can with the sparse information available. He also realizes that people have certain images of Arthur based on the stories, and so tries to honor those by working in elements that are familiar to people, yet more grounded in historical truth. It's a tough balance; he pulls it off. All three books are spectacular and highly recommended. Probably the only "historical fantasies" I'll ever read, they hold particular value living in the UK, as some of the locations mentioned are easily visited. If you like Arthur, fantasy, or the Welsh, read these books!

Rating: A+