England is a nation that has a rich and complex history that stretches across centuries. The history of England is full of drama, powerful kings, and wars that have shaped much of the world over time. As a writer, I always encourage people to read books about history and to research the way the world was before our time, especially if you write fantasy or speculative fiction in general. Understanding the world and how events shape our current landscape can genuinely help you in creating your own well-rounded story. So, for today’s post, I’ll be covering ten of the best history books to learn about British history from!
(affiliate disclaimer: some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you purchase something through one of my links).
1. The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors by Dan Jones
Dan Jones has authored many books about history and the medieval world, and he is known for his ability to bring history to life. The Wars of the Roses is no exception to that. This book covers the brutal civil wars that engulfed England and the power struggles for the throne, describing how the Plantagenets tore themselves apart and were eventually replaced by the Tudors.
It’s a great book about one of the most defining periods in English history and it presents quite a lot, including the battles, the betrayals, and a really compelling narrative. Definitely a must read!
You can buy The Wars of the Roses over on Amazon!
2. The Battle of Hastings: The Fall of the Anglo-Saxons and the Rise of the Normans by Jim Bradbury
One of the most important battles in English history definitely has to be the Battle of Hastings, as it caused a major shift in the country and changed what it meant to be English. Jim Bradbury’s book, The Battle of Hastings, details a full military background of what happened that day in 1066 and what role the battle plays in the modern British world. You learn about the Normans and the Anglo Saxons and how they both interacted on this fateful day. The book is very detailed on many things and goes into depth on the battle in a way that is still accessible for most readers.
If you’re interested in a bit of military history more than just general history, then this is the book for that!
You can buy The Battle of Hastings over on Amazon!
3. The Brothers York: A Royal Tragedy by Thomas Penn
The Brothers York by Thomas Penn details the tale of the House of York, who was in a bitter civil war against the House of Lancaster. The House of York dominated England and three siblings are at the heart of this tale: King Edward IV and his siblings George and Richard. However, their lives together were no happy tales, with rebellions, fratricide, regicide, and more at the heart of the family. The story also details the fall of York and how the Tudors were able to seize control of England.
The War of the Roses is definitely a highly covered topic in English history, but this story details a more personal tale about people involved in it more than just the war itself.
You can buy The Brothers York over at Amazon!
4. The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones
Dan Jones is definitely one of the best at conveying English history in an interesting and well-spun way, and his book, The Plantagenets, is one of the best resources out there to learn about this dynasty. You get to read about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, and King John who signed the Magna Carta. You also learn about the era of Robin Hood, the Templars, the Black Death, how Parliament came to be, and so much more. It definitely is a comprehensive and interesting read into how the Plantagenets came to be.
You can buy The Plantagenets over at Amazon!
5. Henry VIII: The King and His Court by Alison Weir
We all know so much about King Henry VIII because of his treatment of his wives as well as how he formed his own church in order to get a divorce from one wife, but his history was much more deep and engaging than just that. Alison Weir brings to life the story of King Henry VIII and how he ruled over England in his time. Henry VIII: The King and His Court is a great resource if you want to learn a bit more about one of the most well-known kings in English history.
You can buy Henry VIII over at Amazon!
6. The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England by Marc Morris
Marc Morris’ book, The Anglo-Saxons, is a great way to learn about the Anglo-Saxons and their history as well as how England became a Christian country, how it established its churches, as well as how they were nearly destroyed by the Vikings. There are many famous figures mentioned including Alfred the Great and some lesser-known figures from that time-period as well.
If you want to learn about British history before the Norman conquest and want to learn about the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms prior to the Battle of Hastings, then this is an absolutely fantastic book!
You can buy The Anglo-Saxons over on Amazon!
7. The Men Who Lost America by Andrew O’Shaughnessy
If you’re American, you probably know all about the history of the American Revolution and how the English lost control of the American colonies, but we don’t really learn much about what England was going through in this exact time-period and what sort of factors lead to the victory of the colonists in that time.
The Men Who Lost America details the reasons how the British lost America and how key figures like King George III and military leaders like General Burgoyne were in that time period, as well as how the British had many victories but ultimately failed the overall revolution. It also details the British victories against Spain and France and how, despite the loss of the colonies, the British Empire remained standing at the time.
You can buy The Men Who Lost America over at Amazon!
8. The Chaos of Empire: The British Raj and the Conquest of India by Jon Wilson
If you’re interested in stories beyond just the Tudors and the Plantagenets and even the American Revolution, and you’d like to learn a bit more about British colonialist practices, then The Chaos of Empire is a great read for you! Jon Wilson’s book takes a look at the British colonization of India and how British rule in the area started, from the East India Company, until the Indian Independence in 1947. However, do note that this is a revisionist history but it still frames the history of British colonialism in the region from an interesting lens if that’s something that you want to read about.
You can buy The Chaos of Empire over on Amazon!
9. The Wolf Age by Tore Skeie
This isn’t entirely only English history, but The Wolf Age covers the time-period where Viking history and English history intersect during the era of the Anglo-Saxons and it details how the two groups clashed and frames things more in a historical context rather than justification/lack thereof as is seen in some other books about Vikings.
This is more of a Viking history book, but there is enough mention of England to earn it a place on this list if you’re interested in the clashes between the two groups and how this period ended up.
You can buy The Wolf Age over on Amazon!
10. The Norman Conquest by Marc Morris
The Norman Conquest is a great story about how the Normans were able to destroy the Anglo-Saxons and how violence and drama filled this period of intense historical change. We learn about the end of the Anglo-Saxons and how the English fell to the Vikings and Normans. There’s a lot of action and a lot of really interesting stories that are told in this book, and we get to see a lot of really intriguing historical figures and their lives, like Edward the Confessor, King Harold, and William the Conqueror as well as how some of them came to be the powerful kings that they were.
You can buy The Norman Conquest over on Amazon right now!
Conclusion
British history is definitely something that I think is worth learning about simply because of how much Britain has influenced the world and how the English conquests and wars changed pretty much everything. There’s so much history to learn about and it’s obviously good to broaden one’s knowledge and learn more about these periods. It’s also great to read about their history for inspiration for writing or for just general research.
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