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Rating:  - No One Tells it Like Simon Schama
There is no one quite like Simon Schama. He makes the history of Britain coherent, understandable, and unique, and he has the ability to help the viewer comprehend the great achievements of Britain while being honest, humorous, informative, clear and articulate in the presentation. His stories and visuals are very well chosen. He is one of only a few presenters of history in video - Bronowski and Clark come to mind - who can stimulate the mind and excite the viewer through audio and visual imagery that truly resonates long after the first viewing. "The History of Britain" is a worthy addition to any documentary collection, and really no one tells it like Simon Schama. And if the viewer wants more, there is always Simon Schama's "The Power of Art". Two great programs.
Rating:  - This series is JUST AWFUL
The producers pride themselves on 'disengaging from the tedious timeline of history.' What is history without a timeline? This series is a tedious thread of pictures, images, FEELINGS. Trite drama without substantive detail, pablum for the mind-numb -- the narrator's exaggerated facial contortions gave us endless minutes of mirth (and I use the word 'endless' with great intent). Do not waste your time and money on this one.
Rating: - Don't buy this American set
When I started watching I expected it to be up to the ususal BBC standards, after all BBC is the producer of the mind blowing "Planet Earth" series. And I could not be more right! "A History of Britian" is nothing less than an experience that must be lived to be believed. It takes you in a time machine ride to cover 3000 years of Britian's history using stunning visuals and excellent music. Of course nowhere near the detail of the 3 books by Simon with the same title, but he manages to include as much detail in 15 hours as anyone will ever be able to do. My only take is that the 20th century, including WW1, WW2 and the struggle with the IRA, are mentioned in just few words certainly not proportionate to how big those events were. So you better think of it as a comprehensive history of Britian up to the end of the 19th century.
That said, this American release is cropped (image cut on sides) to fit 4:3 TV screens. The original program was shot in wide screen by the BBC, thus this American release is a ture mess. I bought the R2 UK set which is in wide screen, and it also comes with a bonus sixth DVD with extra material.
Rating: - RULE BRITANIA!!!
Very inspiring, well done series. Great photography, not the usual set of boring dates, names, etc. Makes history come alive!
Rating: - A Great Series!
Simon Schama's A History of Britain presents the epic history of the British Isles in a lively, engaging and beautiful manner. I have a passion for history, and have been plenty of documentaries. A good documentary gives both a thorough recounting of events and sheds new light onto them. A great one can introduce ideas that one had not previously thought of, but delight as well as inform, and Simon Schama's work definitely falls into the latter category.
An art historian, Simon Schama includes and explains many beautiful works of art, explaining how they helped tell us of Great Britain's past. It also includes plenty of panoramic views of the gorgeous English countryside, which one could make a whole seperate documentary out of. As other reviewers have noted, Schama avoids a dry recounting of events, and prevents it in an amusing fashion that can almost make one laugh out loud. By the time one is finished with the fifteen installments, one almost regrets it is over.
The episodes frequently revolve around the stories of great leaders and thinkers, and how they changed Great Britain for better or worse. Some lesser-known figures are given a much-deserved highlight. King Henry I, whose imposition of a common law upon the realm would inspire the barons to rebel against his gutless, blackmailing heir King John. King Edward Longshanks, whose utterly ruthless wars against Wales, Scotland and Ireland inspired patriotic rhetoric centuries before the age of nationalism. Finally, there is Robert "Cock Robin" Walpole, who envisioned and helped to bring about a modern Britain built around money, rather than violent sectarian fervor and the destructive wars it helped to bring about.
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