The History of England. Volume I: Foundation.

The History of England. Volume I: Foundation. Peter Ackroyd. MacmilIan. [pounds sterling]25.00. ix + 486 pages. ISBN 978-0-230-70639-2. It is a brave man who undertakes a history of England in, presumably, three volumes whether he has a band o" researchers behind him or not. This first volume by the well known novelist-historian (as the latter he has written on London, the Thames and Venice), while not a work of scholarship (there are no notes and only a short bibliography), will meet a need. Given the appalling level of historical teaching in most English schools anyone wishing to know something about his country's history will have to fend for himself. For the 'general reader' books such as this fill a real need however much academics will shun them. In general terms Mr Ackroyd is keen to show how far back our island history goes and how much existed before records began. He also picks out threads that made England unique, e.g. possession from the eleventh century pf a strong, centralised government, a recognisable sense of unity and identity, stresses between parliament and crown, sovereign and nobles or church and state. He mixes social and agricultural with political and military history, keeping his emphasis on individuals rather than groups or trends and especially on the continuity on which English history and life are built. Mr Ackroyd is a skilled writer and produces many telling phrases and neat summings-up. There is a need for books such as this and Peter Ackroyd has met it. (E.B.)