British Isles

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Great review of UK for people Overseas - Rated
Being from Australia, I've only been to London a few times. This series really opened up my eyes to the history of the island and also some of the natural places which I really was not aware of.

The presenter did a great job, and some very interesting themes were put forward.

I really enjoyed the soundtrack as well, and wish it would be released.

A very enjoyable series and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

Don't get too hung up on Alan Titchmarsh. - Rated
Great book and series too. Don't get too hung up on Alan Titchmarsh. This can only ever be an introduction to the Natural History of our great country. If you want more detailed information read something more weighty. If like me you enjoyed the television series and wanted to read a bit more about it. I recommend this book as it's easy to read with great photographs in too.

Alan Titchmarsh is the problem! - Rated
Both the original television series and this book would have been excellent, but both were spoilt by the presence of Alan Titchmarsh. The rationale for this project was a good one since it filled a gap in the BBC's nature/landscape/geography output, but why oh why did they decide to dumb down the whole project and ask Alan Titchmarsh to be the front man? He totally lacks gravitas and intellectual credibility, which came through in spades on the TV series and even permeates this book. As a consequence, although the book is superficially nice (well illustrated etc), it cannot be trusted as a reliable reference. The BBC should re-make the TV series and re-publish this book with a better, more knowledgeable presenter, such as Richard Mabey. And Alan Titchmarsh should retire to his garden.

British Isles - Rated
I have to disagree with the other review. I thoroughly enjoyed the programme and the book is an added bonus, taking the story on further and written in a clear, informative and engaging way. I found the subject fascinating and wanted to read more about it but I don't want to read an academic tome on geology. This book is a perfect compromise of education and enjoyment. The illustrations are also wonderful and add extra interest - it's a book that may make its way under the Christmas tree in a few of my friends' houses!

Great illustrations, a bit short on detail - Rated
A difficult book to review, and for all the wrong reasons. Firstly, the subject matter is fascinating and there is much to commend the book in terms of the quality of its (profuse) illustration. The television series was excellent, its photography and animation simply stunning at times. However, the book does not live up to the quality and scale of the TV production. It offers a safe, general discussion of the emergence of the British Isles as a geographical fact, then goes on to offer a compressed potted history of the first settlers, emergence of a rural society, and the process of urbanisation and social change which has helped shape the landscape.

It's all very interesting, and the book does provide quite an engaging narrative. But the words seem sparse, lost amidst the illustrations. As an introduction to the history, prehistory, and geology of the British Isles, it is, in places, too short and too simplistic. The book lacks the graphic quality of the television presentation.

Now, quite clearly Alan Titchmarsh has put his name to this volume. He seems a nice, genuine bloke, and there's no doubt he knows about gardening. If I were to buy a book on gardening, I'd probably look at something by him. But if I read a book about the geology of the British Isles, I want it written by a geologist. If I read a book about the history of the British Isles, I want it written by an historian. Simply taking a 'celebrity' and sticking his name below the title seems cheap and exploitative of the general public.

Anyone truly interested in this subject would be much better advised looking at Hoskins' "The Making of the English Landscape" (a recognised classic), or any of the excellent titles by Richard Muir - say his "Landscape Detective: Discovering a Countryside". Unfortunately, you get the impression that the BBC decided that this was a potentially boring subject, but if they could get someone as cuddly and popular as Alan, the public would stay in and watch it ... then rush out and buy the book. It's disappointing, and if you compare this publication with any of Richard Muir's books, you'll realise where value for money lies ... unless, of course, you simply want a pretty looking book. Mind you, Muir's books are well illustrated, too!

It is a nice, safe, good little introduction to the subject, and maybe it will sow the seeds of interest in a few people ... but it is just a little short of the excellence you expect from the BBC.