The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places

Written by Neil Oliver

Narrated by Neil Oliver

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places written and read by Neil Oliver.

The British Isles, this archipelago of islands, is to Neil Oliver the best place in the world. From north to south, east to west it cradles astonishing beauty. The human story here is a million years old, and counting. But the tolerant, easygoing peace we enjoy has been hard won. We have made and known the best and worst of times. We have been hero and villain and all else in between, and we have learned some lessons.

The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places is Neil’s very personal account of what makes these islands so special, told through the places that have witnessed the unfolding of our history. Beginning with footprints made in the sand by humankind’s earliest ancestors, he takes us via Romans and Vikings, the flowering of religion, through civil war, industrial revolution and two world wars. From windswept headlands to battlefields, ancient trees to magnificent cathedrals, each of his destinations is a place where, somehow, the spirit of the past seems to linger. Beautifully written, his book is majestic, awe-inspiring, a kaleidoscopic history of a place with a story like no other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Transworld Digital
• Release date: Sep 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781473564534

Neil Oliver

Neil Oliver is a Scottish archaeologist, historian, broadcaster and writer who has become widely known as the presenter of BBC's flagship series A History of Scotland. Before that, his distinctive style was much in evidence as the charismatic presenter of the award-winning multi-part documentary series Coast and the author of its tie-in book. His archaeological training at Glasgow University was put to good use in BBC2's series Two Men in a Trench where he visited historic British battlefields and attempted to recreate the events of each battle. He co-wrote the two accompanying books. He has also presented the BBC series A History of Ancient Britain, Vikings, The Last Explorers and Sacred Wonders of Britain, as well as Coast Australia. He lives in Stirling with his wife and three children. Find out more at www.neiloliver.com or follow him on Twitter @NEIL_OLIVER_

[paul_s-289480 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The constant escalating superlatives become tiresome very quickly. Every single places it the absolute favourite and exceptional. It's like that audible illusion of a sound that keeps rising in pitch without end. When something is described as simply wonderful you start to wonder what kind of an utter dump it must be to warrant such a scathing rating. I just cannot stand the supercilious bombastic tone.

[atticusfinch1048 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places

Neil Oliver is the historian I aspire to be! His love of this island of ours and the historic stories he likes to tell are second to none. With this book he has highlighted places that some people may not consider and that is what makes this book so special.

As someone who has studied the history of Manchester and Lancashire in depth, I was surprised at first that he wrote a chapter on The Rutherford Building at Manchester University. Named after the father of modern nuclear physics, and former member of staff of the University. While telling Rutherford’s story, how he came to discover the atom while at Manchester, before his move to Cambridge. A story most Mancunians know but never really consider, but this makes us stop and think yes, big things do happen in the strangest of places.

Even if this is a very personal list of places to Neil Oliver, many will have visited some of the places on this list. Some are also special to me that I have visited a number of times such as the Creswell Crags on the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border and the Great Orme out in Llandudno.

The there is the rockery on the A303, which is currently an excellent parking spot during the traffic delays especially during the summer. Site of the summer solstice Stonehenge is to me a wonder of the world, and engineering! Or one of the places that garnered my interest and passion in history as a child, Harlech Castle.

All the places the Neil Oliver has used to tell the story of the British Isles are special, some are very well known and well visited others are not. This is a fantastic book that it helps you to view British history in a different light, and like me you will now have a new list of places to visit. While all of us will have our own list of places that can tell the history of these Isles and this is the opening of a historical debate.

This really is a fantastic book.