Our Island Story, Volume 2
Volume Two of a five part series telling The Story of Great Britain from its earliest beginnings to World War I. Our Island Story, originally published in 1905 and later updated, details the history of Britain up to World War I (including some myths and legends associated with British history). Author H. E. Marshall based the book on her answers to her children's questions about the history of their ""home island"" (Great Britain).
Ruling Monarchs from 1066 to 1509 A.D.
1. Harold
2. The Battle of Stamford Bridge
3. The Battle of Hastings
4. William the Conqueror - The Story of Hereward the Wake
5. William the Conqueror - The Death of the King
6. The Story of William the Red
7. Henry I -The Story of the ""White Ship""
8. The Story of King Stephen
9. Henry Plantagenet- The Story of Gilbert and Rohesia
10. Henry Plantagenet - The Story of Thomas a Becket
11. Henry Plantagenet - The Story of the Conquest of Ireland
12. The Story of Richard Coeur De Lion
13. Richard Coeur De Lion - The Story of How Blondel Found the King
14. John Lackland - The Story of Prince Arthur
15. John Lackland - The Story of the Great Charter
16. Henry III of Winchester - The Story of Hubert de Burgh
17. Henry III of Winchester- The Story of Simon De Montfort
18. Henry III The Story of the Poisoned Dagger
19. Edward I - The Little War of Chalons
20. Edward I - The Lawgiver - The Story of the First Prince of Wales
21. Edward I - The Hammer of the Scots
22. Edward II of Caernarvon -The Story of King Robert the Bruce and Bohun
23. Edward II of Caernarvon - The Story of the Battle of Bannockburn
24. Edward III of Windsor - The Story of the Battle of Sluys
AUTHOR
Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall (1867 - 1941) was a British author, most famous for her works of history for children.
For decades, Marshall's books were ubiquitous in schools and home libraries. Much of the popularity of her works stems from her talent for making history read like good storytelling.
COMMENTARY
Reviews for Alcazar AudioWorks' production of Our Island Story, Volume 2
Our Island Story, Volume 2, Part 1 is the second part in Alcazar Audioworks' project to bring H.E. Marshall's history of Great Britain to audiobook form.
H.E. Marshall was a fine storyteller in her own right, and the two readers who alternate in the reading do a fine job, adding to the listener's interest. David Thorn's rich British accent suits his material well, and Bobbie Frohman contributes her usual warmth.
Our Island Story, Volume 2, Part 1 covers the span of years between 1066 (King Harold's reign before William the Conqueror arrived) and the Battle of Sluys in 1340, during the reign of Edward III. We were fascinated by details we hadn't heard in other history books. There were good and decent kings (not too many of these, it seems), along with men who would be king, and ruthless men who made us shudder to hear of their deeds in their attempts to gain power. There are battles and brave deeds, triumphs and tragedies, and even some familiar figures - Robin Hood makes a brief appearance, during the time of Richard the Lion Heart, and we were excited to hear the story of the crowning of the Prince of Wales under Edward I, having first heard the story told at Canaervon Castle itself, where Edward's son was born.
There were a few chapters that brought our sensitive youngest to tears (she's nine, the suggested minimum age for this book). I think that we'll save the rest of Our Island Story, at least the terrible parts, for when she's older, and have her older sister listen with headphones.
The book, written in 1905, is from a Christian perspective. The stories are well-told, the language vivid, though not overly graphic when it comes to the inevitable violence that accompanies invasion and battle. (Parts are still graphic enough to upset a sensitive listener, however, such as a wicked king's plot to put out the eyes of his young nephew, and mention of that nephew's subsequent murder.) Two different readers alternate the reading, as noted above, and chapters are easy to locate on the CDs.
If you happen to be using Ambleside Online, you'll want to know that Our Island Story, Volume 2, Part 1 will take you a little more than halfway through Year 2 of Ambleside's reading schedule. You will also need Volume 2, Part 2 to finish Ambleside's Year 2.
Reviewed By: Jean Hall - EHO Eclectic Homeschool Online
Alcazar Audioworks has done a wonderful job of bringing H.E. Marshall's history of Great Britain, Our Island Story, to audiobook form.
History should not be a dusty, dry set of facts and dates, and Our Island Story is anything but that! H.E. Marshall was a gifted storyteller, selecting familiar (and I admit, not so familiar) anecdotes to weave these stories centered around famous figures in British history. The two readers who alternate in the reading add to the listener's interest. David Thorn's rich British accent suits his material well, and Bobbie Frohman contributes her usual warmth.
Our Island Story, Volume 2, Part 2 is composed of chapters 46 through 61. The period of history covered begins with Edward III's involvement in the battle of Crecy in 1346 and ends with Henry VII who ruled from 1485 to 1509. There are battles and intrigues, gallant knights and craven villains. There are deeds of generosity examples of cruelty - because of the latter, we've had to be selective in our listening, making sure our sensitive youngest was prepared beforehand for upsetting material.
If you happen to be using Ambleside Online, you'll want to know that Our Island Story, Volume 2, Part 2 would be used during Year 2 of Ambleside's reading schedule. You will also need Volume 2, Part 1 to complete Ambleside's Year 2.
Reviewed By: Jean Hall - EHO Eclectic Homeschool Online
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Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall (Author), David Thorn (Narrator)
Audiobook
