A Child's History of England (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Chronological Journey Through Britain's Past, from Roman Occupation to the Victorian Era, with Moral Lessons for Young ReadersBy Charles Dickens
Length17h 40m
About this audiobook
In *A Child's History of England*, Charles Dickens retells the nation's past from its legendary beginnings through the reign of George III, transforming chronicles of kings, wars, religious conflict, and revolution into vivid narrative. Written in an engaging, conversational style, the work combines dramatic scene-setting, irony, caricature, and direct address to its young readers. It belongs to the nineteenth-century tradition of popular historical writing and educational literature, yet it resists the detached authority of conventional histories: Dickens judges rulers and institutions according to humane principles, especially compassion, liberty, and resistance to cruelty. His account is therefore both an introduction to English history and a distinctly Victorian moral interpretation of it. Dickens wrote the history during a period of intense political and social debate, when Britain's expanding literacy and publishing culture encouraged authors to make national knowledge accessible beyond scholarly elites. His experiences of poverty, child labor, legal injustice, and rigid class hierarchy deeply shaped his suspicion of aristocratic power and official hypocrisy. Although the book was intended for children, Dickens's passionate judgments reveal the concerns that animate his fiction, including the defense of the vulnerable and the exposure of institutional violence. His imaginative reconstruction of the past consequently reflects the reformist conscience of a novelist confronting his own society. This book is recommended to readers interested in Dickens, Victorian culture, historical memory, and the relationship between literature and civic education. It offers neither a neutral chronology nor a modern academic history; its value lies in the force of its storytelling and the ethical questions it directs toward the past. Readers should approach its emphases and omissions critically, while appreciating how memorably Dickens makes history emotionally and politically intelligible.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.8 (1.9K)
Includes LibraryThing, Goodreads, Amazon, StoryGraph
GenreChildren's Literature
Length17 hrs 40 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateSep 4, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1A Child's History of England (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Author Biography
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6CHAPTER I—ANCIENT ENGLAND AND THE ROMANS
7CHAPTER II—ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS
8CHAPTER III—ENGLAND UNDER THE GOOD SAXON, ALFRED
9CHAPTER IV—ENGLAND UNDER ATHELSTAN AND THE SIX BOY-KINGS
10CHAPTER V—ENGLAND UNDER CANUTE THE DANE
11CHAPTER VI—ENGLAND UNDER HAROLD HAREFOOT, HARDICANUTE, AND EDWARD THE CONFESSOR
12CHAPTER VII—ENGLAND UNDER HAROLD THE SECOND, AND CONQUERED BY THE NORMANS
13CHAPTER VIII—ENGLAND UNDER WILLIAM THE FIRST, THE NORMAN CONQUEROR
14CHAPTER IX—ENGLAND UNDER WILLIAM THE SECOND, CALLED RUFUS
15CHAPTER X—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE FIRST, CALLED FINE-SCHOLAR
16CHAPTER XI—ENGLAND UNDER MATILDA AND STEPHEN
17CHAPTER XII—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE SECOND
18PART THE FIRST
19PART THE SECOND
20CHAPTER XIII—ENGLAND UNDER RICHARD THE FIRST, CALLED THE LION-HEART
21CHAPTER XIV—ENGLAND UNDER KING JOHN, CALLED LACKLAND
22CHAPTER XV—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE THIRD, CALLED, OF WINCHESTER
23CHAPTER XVI—ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE FIRST, CALLED LONGSHANKS
24CHAPTER XVII—ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE SECOND
25CHAPTER XVIII—ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE THIRD
26CHAPTER XIX—ENGLAND UNDER RICHARD THE SECOND
27CHAPTER XX—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE FOURTH, CALLED BOLINGBROKE
28CHAPTER XXI—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE FIFTH
29FIRST PART
30SECOND PART
31CHAPTER XXII—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE SIXTH
32PART THE FIRST
33PART THE SECOND: THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC
34PART THE THIRD
35CHAPTER XXIII—ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE FOURTH
36CHAPTER XXIV—ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE FIFTH
37CHAPTER XXV—ENGLAND UNDER RICHARD THE THIRD
38CHAPTER XXVI—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE SEVENTH
39CHAPTER XXVII—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE EIGHTH, CALLED BLUFF KING HAL AND BURLY KING HARRY
40PART THE FIRST
41CHAPTER XXVIII—ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE EIGHTH
42PART THE SECOND
43CHAPTER XXIX—ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE SIXTH
44CHAPTER XXX—ENGLAND UNDER MARY
45CHAPTER XXXI—ENGLAND UNDER ELIZABETH
46SECOND PART
47THIRD PART
48CHAPTER XXXII—ENGLAND UNDER JAMES THE FIRST
49SECOND PART
50CHAPTER XXXIII—ENGLAND UNDER CHARLES THE FIRST
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