A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900 by Andrew Roberts (PDF)

Description

A magisterial history inspired by Winston Churchill’s famous opus, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900 is an engrossing account of the twentieth century, with a unique perspective on our turbulent times. In 1900, where Churchill ended the fourth volume of his History of the English-Speaking Peoples, the United States had not yet emerged onto the world scene as a great power. Yet the coming century was to belong to the English-speaking peoples, who successively and successfully fought the Kaiser’s Germany, Axis aggression and Soviet Communism, and who are now struggling against Islamic fundamentalist terrorism. Andrew Roberts’s History proves especially invaluable as the United States today looks to other parts of the English-speaking world as its best, closest and most dependable allies.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “Roberts is one of Britain’s most talented and stylish young historians.” — Benjamin Schwarz, The Atlantic Monthly“Andrew Roberts has justly made a reputation for himself as one of today’s leading young British historians.” — Alistair Horne, The Wall Street Journal“Roberts has interesting and perceptive things to say about the more exotic aspects of the Anglo-Saxon diaspora.” — Richard Overy, The Sunday Telegraph“A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900 is written with verve.” — The Financial Times“This book is more entertaining than many novels.” — Allan Massie, The Daily Telegraph“In Andrew Roberts, the Anglo-American Special Relationship has found an advocate of Churchillian eloquence.” — Niall Ferguson, The Mail on Sunday About the Author Andrew Roberts is the author of Masters and Commanders and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900. His other books include Napoleon and Wellington, Eminent Churchillians, and Salisbury, which won the Wolfson History Prize. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he holds a PhD in history from Cambridge University and writes regularly for The Wall Street Journal and The Daily Beast. He lives in New York City.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐It’s a fact that it is much easier to read history about events more than 100 years ago, than things that were more recent. Few of us are old enough to have known anyone with much of importance to say about their experiences more than 100 years ago. So, we can read such histories with very few preconceptions, and those we have are not coloured by personal experience and unreliable memories. Take us to more recent times, however, and we have a multitude of prejudices, many influenced by a self-serving, manipulative and dishonest Press, and very often attitudes that have become cast in stone. So, when it comes to Roberts’ book, is it fair to criticise it for being a tad Anglocentric? Look at the title guys, it’s an update to Churchill’s A History of the English Speaking Peoples! I’ve read scores of history books, and that’s the only way to learn history. Any history, no matter how unbiased the author, has to have a viewpoint or nobody will read it and it will be a drudge to write. So, to prevent personal bias, you should read several views of the same period. For example, I have seven biographies of Oliver Cromwell. I understand the man better than I did my own father! In so far as I have one, my favourite historian was AJP Taylor. He was utterly unafraid of “important” people, understand politics, and his left-wing views meshed frequently with my own. Yet, even coming from there, I enjoyed Roberts’ book. It is undeniably well-written, not as well as Churchill’s racing tales, but it would be unfair to expect that. Roberts presents facts pretty accurately, some minor mistakes, but we all make those, and his approach is consistent with Churchill’s and comes to, I think, conclusions that Churchill would have found little argument with. This is a thoroughly respectable and entertaining history, on a subject important to us all if we are to get the 21st century into any sort of workable context.I know there are people out there who are worked up about the war in Afghanistan and the plight of the Palestinians. I’m with you most of the way. But that’s no reason why Roberts should bias his book in our favour. The English Speaking world must be doing something right; tens of millions of citizens of other countries want to live in it! For example, the population of Australia by 2050 is projected to be more than double the current population – mostly through migration. Anyway, it’s decidedly unhealthy reading only stuff that supports your views. We need stimulation to make us think, and Roberts’ book provides it in spades!

⭐This is an attempt to further the work that Churchill did in his four volume History of the English Speaking Peoples, 60 years ago. The thesis of the two are similar – to show how the various nations arising from the common descendants of the British Empire are uniquely qualified to meet world challenges together. Churchill put the emphasis on a common language, history, government, particular type of Christianity, civic liberty. Roberts is far more polemical than Churchill, as he is often aiming his work at contemporary detractors of his thesis.Roberts, a popular English historian, divides his work into four challenges that the English speaking peoples faced largely together: Prussian militarism, fascist oppression, the communist threat and the contemporary crisis dealing with Islamic radicalism. I am largely sympathetic to not only how he laid his book out, but his effort to point out how the unique qualities that the English speaking peoples have in common has aided them to arise and fight these adversaries. So in his sense, Roberts is telling a history by common culture, framed against various conflicts, in the midst of contemporary struggles in the Western world against the unique qualities of Anglo civilization.Yet, Roberts makes his case too hard, and goes too far in his attempt to right the wrong ways history has been understood, and to shine light on where credit is due. He is personally, almost in an ad hominen way, opposed to just about everything Irish. He gives little credit to the influence of Canada in mediating British vs. American disputes. He defends harsh military action, particularly in British India, far beyond what they can be defended. The inaccuracy of some his assertions can be irritating to the reader as well.This is a book worth reading, because Roberts attempts a very hard job, in showing the wide scope of all the major ways that the English speaking peoples literally turned the tide against real evil in the 20th century, and advanced civilization.There are some glaring weaknesses, and the polemical, rather than pure historical slant of this book makes this less than a classic work. Also, you have to wonder if you can put the post September 11th events on the same category as the world wars and the Cold War conflicts, as Roberts attempts to do, especially considering the great lengths that he goes to show how serious a threat those three prior conflicts were to civilization. There is little that Roberts will not defend, and at times his writing is rambling, and lacks coherence.

⭐Excellent book in brilliant hardback edition.

⭐I came to this book seeking knowledge and understanding of the events that shaped the English-speaking world in the 20th century and I found it comprehensive and very readable.However, the balance between verifiable fact and the author’s opinions meant that, for me at least, it was less than satisfactory. Although I have none of the author’s undoubted erudition, I was left with the enduring impression that he believes that the history of the English-Speaking Peoples belongs to the victors. It is not a view that I share.Buy this book by all means but do not use it as your only source of reference.

⭐A brilliant book and a thoroughly entertaining read. Nothing less than a broadside aimed at self-flagellating “progressives” who have undermined our culture. A quick peep at the one star reviews will tell you why this book is valuable and why you ought to read it.

⭐A wonderful addition to Churchill’s earlier volumes. Highly recommended.

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