A Short History of England

A Short History of England, Chesterton gives us a cutting, humorous and brilliant tour of English History; though to be honest it's more of a collection of essays and a commentary on popular histories of the day. It follows the great arc of English history from the Roman era to WWI, always with wit, charm and empathy. To get a full sense for Chesterton's philosophical romp through time, it is perhaps best to at least have a vague familiarity with the island's history before reading the book. Having done so (or not) the reader will certainly be thrilled with G.K.'s brilliant and poignant retelling of the great events.