By Simon Jenkins
This is the 3rd entry entitled A Short History of England in the Rhode Island public library online catalog. The first two were published in 1919 and 1967 (all by different authors). Presumably, the island nation's history lengthens with each successive publication.
Knowing one's history helps to understand the present - and not repeat the same mistakes twice, according to some philosophers!
While it's impossible to cover 1000+ years of English history in 350 pages, Simon Jenkins (England's Thousand Best Houses, England's Thousand Best Churches) does a clear job of tracing the lineage of the various kings and queens and throws in many interesting facts (eg., the origin of the name "Charing" Cross, how the English acquired Manhattan Island, etc). I was aghast at the constant wars and violence that characterize the monarchy at least through the 18th century. Is this what it takes to retain one's role as a leader, or to maintain one's property?
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