Walk into any popular tourist attraction in North Yorkshire, and chances are you'll see Yorkshire: A Very Peculiar History for sale. In 180 quick pages, John Malam gives the layperson an introduction to this historic and scenic part of England. He covers prehistoric, Roman, Viking, and Norman peoples, discusses major events like the War of the Roses and Dissolution of the Monasteries, and finishes with a Yorkshire miscellany. As the title implies, the book is extremely Yorkshire-focused; so, for example, the War of the Roses covers only the battles that were fought in Yorkshire.
If you live in Yorkshire, or plan an extended visit here, I'd recommend this book. It's an amazingly fast read, and gives a good overview of things. Anyone familiar with history won't find much new here, but the Yorkshire focus may bring a few things to light that seasoned history enthusiasts didn't know, and at the very least it may give a better awareness of the myriad of local sites.
Rating: B-
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