The Spirit Of Britain: A Narrative History Of The Arts

After telling the two-thousand-year-old history of Britain in The Story of Britain, a book widely hailed as an "instant classic", Sir Roy Strong now follows up with an accomplishment of even greater ambition -- the story of the incredible explosion of creative energy that has shaped Britain's cultural identity since Roman times. In a continuous unfolding narrative, Strong chronicles the events and people that gave birth to a civilization of astonishing vitality as it created a culture of soaring splendor. Here he tells the fascinating story of all that is best in Britain's art and culture -- its literature and music, its poetry, painting, architecture, theater, and dance. In Strong's hands the tale becomes an exciting journey of discovery from the Celts to Francis Bacon and the present day, to be shared and understood by modern readers. The book has more than 300 stunning illustrations (many full-page and nearly all in color) chosen by the author to complement and expand the text. They dazzle and enlighten, adding much to the overall impact. This is a book for everyone, a celebration of Britain's creative past and present in which each page glows with the author's passion for his great subject.