The Story of Britain
by Roy Strong, Weidenfeld, 608pp, £30
Sir Roy Strong is known for his reigns at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. His flamboyant clothes and outspoken opinions also get a lot of press.
His talent as a writer of clear, unflashy, deeply well-informed prose takes a back seat. This history of Britain, an updated version of his 1996 book, is a perfect example of it. No meretricious opinions; no show-off expressions. Just a considered explanation of British history, from the Celts to the present day. Every history-starved schoolchild in the country should be given a copy.
