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The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places

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The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places

By: Neil Oliver
Narrated by: Neil Oliver
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About this listen

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.

©2018 Neil Oliver (P)2018 Penguin Audio Archaeology War Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

A collection of highly crafted historical-archaeological microessays, each centred on a significant place in Britain or Ireland. Few popular history books are as pleasingly tactile as this one..a vivid, pungent history (James McConnachie)
This book brilliantly demonstrates Neil's mastery of the broad sweep of British history and landscape. (Dan Snow)
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I really enjoyed listening this great book. Beautifully written and read by Neil Oliver whom I admire for years. Highly recommended!

Brilliant book

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Neil's story-telling merged with his passion for history and the British Isles, with each of a hundred short chapters focusing on one place, person or event. I learned a lot, even though I thought I knew quite a lot about the history of my part of the world. His narration is clear, nicely-paced, and he lets his feelings show. Delighted I bought this.

Interesting, engaging and thought-provoking

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I have been entranced by this book. interested by the places and buildings which Neil Oliver has chosen, by the reasons for his choices; breathtaken by the depth of his empathy for the lives lived and lost; the genii loci brought from their hiding places. This is a labour of love, a love song to these islands if you will. His narration is, of course, perfect. Listen, become absorbed, enjoy.

There are pictures in the hard copy. I'm off to look for it now.

This is a brilliant book!

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A wide variety of fascinating places, people and objects from all over the British isles. If you love history you’ll likely enjoy hearing Neil Oliver’s passion for his top 100 stories.

A love letter to the British Isles

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This book offers a spell binding glimpse into the history of these British Isles and even has a chapter on how they came to be these very islands that we know and love today, as they became separated from mainland europe, around 9000 years ago during a massive subterranean slide known the 'storegga slide' which in turn flooded the area known as doggerland into what we regard today as the southern North Sea.

The stories of such places and times are spoken and written through the eyes of man who has travelled the length and breadth of our archipelago. Neil Oliver is a man with a great understanding of archaeology and a passion for history and he takes us on this rollercoaster of a journey going right back as far as 950,000 years ago to those lonely footsteps briefly exposed in tidal sands at Happisburgh made by our distant ancestor 'Homo Antecessor' who once walked barefoot through these lands. It is pure magic.

This audio book is a hefty listen / read with over 100 of these stories spanning over 14hrs all told by Neil. I recommend you treat it as you would hot cuppa and sip it slowly over time!

Looking forward to the next 100 places or 50 Mr Oliver :)

Enjoy!

A fascinating insight into this Archipelago

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Neil Oliver writes so beautifully, with passion and a buckets of knowledge. I think everyone from our Isles should read this but especially our young people. I found so much of this moving and he gave me a strong sense of how precious is much that I take so for granted.

A love letter to The British Isles

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Really enjoyed this Audiobook. Very informative and extremely interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the British Isle's.

Fantastic listen, highly recommend

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This is a great book and well worth a listen, a good overview of the British Isles

Great book

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Oliver’s ability to be emotionally moved by the things he writes about must be exhausting for those who just want a quick stroll around the park.

A soothing tonic written with poetry & wisdom

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if you enjoy the Neil Oliver style of story and depths this is a must listen

this is a must listen!

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