Author:Archie Miles
As the oldest living inhabitants on the planet, trees have played a major part in the way we live today, providing both the daily oxygen we breathe and the foundation of our nations heritage. Every native tree in Britain, whether its part of a grand avenue, a thriving hedgerow, an ancient wood or a colourful orchard, tells a different story.
The Trees That Made Britain takes us on a journey of discovery to every corner of the nation. Through detailed portraits of individual tree species, author and photographer Archie Miles reveals the stories of the trees that have influenced the culture, myths and fabric of the nation.
The book is full of surprising facts on how trees have been used by man over the centuries, from the oak used in the building of HMS Victory to ancient longbows made from yew, as well as practical advice on visiting some of Britains finest living examples. The combination of rich historical material and lyrical descriptions captures the essence of our native tree species.
I only wish this book had been around when I was at school
—— Sadiq Khan, Mayor of LondonA fascinating reckoning with a history of empire
—— Guardian, Best Politics Books of 2021A balanced and insightful study of the British empire and contemporary attitudes towards it
—— The Times, Best Paperbacks of 2021This immensely readable book is very timely. The account by Sanghera, a former FT writer, is simultaneously personal and scholarly. It addresses many of the questions that are now urgent subjects of public debate - such as Britain's role in the slave trade and the connections between empire and multiculturalism
—— Gideon Rachmen , Financial Times, Best Books of 2021: PoliticsAn important book and that's not a phrase to use lightly. It's an exposé and a reminder of how conveniently the British have rewritten the past and buried the bones of their shame . . . a necessary, uncomfortable and illuminating read
—— Kit de Waal , New Statesman, Books of the YearRobust . . . an illuminating examination of the "toxic cocktail of nostalgia and amnesia" that still hugely influences our life today
—— Cathy Rentzenbrink , Guardian, Best Books of 2021This remarkable book shines the brightest of lights into some of the darkest and most misunderstood corners of our shared history
—— James O'Brien[Empireland] should be on the compulsory reading list of every secondary school in the country
—— John SimpsonLucid but never simplistic; entertaining but never frivolous; intensely readable while always mindful of nuance and complexity - Empireland takes a perfectly-judged approach to its contentious but necessary subject
—— Jonathan CoeEmpireland by Sathnam Sanghera is a salutary reminder of the dark side of our past. I spend my time trying to help resolve armed conflicts from Myanmar to Nigeria that are largely caused by the crass errors of our ancestors. It helps to understand how those came about
—— Jonathan Powell , New Statesman, Books of the YearA gracefully written book, but its real beauty lies in its complete absence of dogmatism ... Empireland is not an angry diatribe. It's a sensitive, often uncomfortable commentary on the stubborn influence of empire ... The real remedy is education of the kind that Sanghera has embraced - accepting, not ignoring, the past
—— Gerard deGroot , The TimesThis remarkable book shines the brightest of lights into some of the darkest and most misunderstood corners of our shared history. As urgent as it is illuminating . . . Sanghera's meticulous research and passionate advocacy combine to create an irresistible case for reviewing much of what we think we know about the reality and legacy of the British Empire
—— James O'BrienIn this witty and multi-faceted portrait of our nation, the award-winning journalist and novelist looks with great acuity at how the Empire wrought contemporary Britain
—— Bookseller[An] impassioned and deeply personal journey through Britain's imperial past and present ... a moving and stimulating book that deserves to be widely read
—— The GuardianExcellent ... he is a good guide to the complexities of the issues ... And he is largely positive about Britain and its future
—— Andrew Marr , Sunday TimesThe best book on the British empire for a very long time
—— Diane AbbottA scorching polemic on the afterburn of empire
—— FTA wonderful, wonderful book
—— David LammyThis account of how much of our "island story" was written in other countries deserves to be widely read. His decency and talent remind us of how much we owe to all those immigrants from our empire who came to make their lives here and too often (but happily not always) had to face hostility with a racist hue. The racism was frequently sired by our imperial past
—— The TabletA really interesting look at the history of empire - everything we're not taught at school - and how learning that history could change the way we view our country today
—— Krishnan Guru-MurthyThis thoroughly engaging and incredibly important book must be read by everyone. The sometimes heartbreaking read is enlightening and transformative. This remarkable work should be included in school curriculum... The informative book will undoubtedly continue to improve the understanding of future generations and perhaps even shape them
—— Eastern EyeEmpireland argues passionately that our identity has been shaped for the worse by empire, and that we must do more to debunk national myths
—— Prospect, Books of the Year 2021In the wake of personal epiphany we glimpse with Sanghera pathways of transformative potential ... a simple but profound response - this searching introspection and a quest for new horizons, combined with a readiness to sit with the contradictions of it all
—— ObserverMy book of the year so far. A really thoughtful, deeply researched and elegantly written look at the legacy of empire
—— Gideon Rachman , Financial TimesVery well written ... decent, balanced and wise. His decency and talent remind us of how much we owe to all those immigrants from our empire who came to make their lives here
—— Chris Patten , The Tableta deeply textured portrait of George III [and] a capacious, prodigiously researched biography from a top-shelf historian.
—— Kirkusan outstanding and surprisingly moving portrait of a misunderstood king, distinguished by refreshing revisionism but also illuminated by deep humanity.
—— Simon Sebag Montefiore , Spectator World Books of the YearRoberts is in a rich vein of form at present; after bestselling books on Napoleon and Churchill, yet another masterpiece has tumbled from his pen.
—— Dan Jones , The Good Web GuideRoberts has been justly acclaimed as one of his generation's leading historians ... His new biography seeks to challenge popular myths about the monarch. ... Roberts, employing the same flair for original research and ability to convey historical context and vivid prose that he used in previous books ... thoroughly debunks all the assumptions most people have about the king.
—— Jonathan Tobin , Washington Examinerexhaustively researched and written in accessible, non-jargony prose. Meticulous and forensic, it sometimes reads like a defense counsel's case for his client ... Roberts's defense of George III, though, is the fullest, the clearest, and likely to be the most definitive.
—— Robert G. Ingram , National ReviewRoberts has painted a masterful portrait of a patriotic, diligent and cultivated monarch. ... This new biography is a treasure-house of detail. ... George III is an engaging, humane and at times beautiful testament to the importance of giving our ancestors a fair hearing.
—— Harrison Pitt , European Conservative