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  • The Monarchy of England

  • The Beginnings
  • By: David Starkey
  • Narrated by: Tim Pigott-Smith
  • Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (103 ratings)
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The Monarchy of England

By: David Starkey
Narrated by: Tim Pigott-Smith
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Summary

This is the first of three volumes, which, taken together under the over-arching title of Monarchy, will form a new, ground-breaking history of England as told through the lives of its Kings and Queens.

Volume one is an in-depth examination of how the English monarchy came into being, and how England became a nation state. It begins with Rome, the 'fount' from which all modern western European countries spring. The importance of the contrasting cultural and intellectual heritage of the Anglo-Saxons is underlined. Wessex, round which England coalesced in the ninth and tenth centuries, was a participatory society which balanced an effective monarchy at the centre with institutions of local governement which required - and got - the active involvement of most free men. It was this combination which enabled Wessex to survive and absorb the Viking invasions, and finally to thrive.

Then came the crisis of the Norman invasion when, as one contemporary put it, 'God ordered that the English should cease to be people'. But - as David Starkey demonstrates - the English proved resilient, and within forty years of the battle of Hastings had conquered Normandy. The values and practices of Anglo-Saxon politics had triumphed and the English nation state had been reborn.

This is popular history of the most exciting and challenging kind.

©2004 David Starkey (P)2004 Harper Collins UK
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Monarchy of England

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A superb introduction to audible

An excellently read enthralling review of early English history and the development of what the monarchy has come to mean. The characters vividly came to life and it was difficult to pause when ever anything interupted my listening. I wasn't sure how it would compare to David Starkey's excellent television programmes but it exceeded all expectations. The only problem was the story came to an end - what happens next will take me to the next book and I look forward to many hours of further listening.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable read about our early kings and all the mayhem and murder!

It helps to re-play some chapters to absorb all the facts and names.......altogether a fascinating subject, but not to fall asleep to!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great to refresh

What a great way to refresh my school history. Sure. 1066. But what happened next. Really insightful update that I never got when at school.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Special Learning Experience

Listening to these words and performance provides an enjoyable and indelible learning experience for these formative periods of English history.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • PJ
  • 17-11-22

David Starkey at his brilliant best

Brilliantly told and wonderfully narrated with a perfectly listenable, rich delivery. A pleasure from start to finish.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Abrupt ending....

A brilliantly written book and expertly read.
This was like an exciting movie, real edge of the seat stuff only for it to end abruptly.
Why audible haven't got the other 2 volumes available I don't know.
Worth a listen though, I learned a lot.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Great text and outstanding narrator highly recommended listened in one go walking the South Downs Way and was enthralled by the drama of the story of the birth of England

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book well written and well narrated.

loved it,very easy to listen to.Early history of the English through to the Conqueror and his sons.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

History listen

the book seems to stop in an odd place. I was disappointed as it sounded like it should go on longer

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