First published in 1953, this would now be seen as a very old fashioned history of England until the 13th Century. It's a mix of "Great Man" history (King Alfred, Canute, Thomas Becket); and "Whiggish" history (the uncertain progress of individual liberties for the English). Anyone who has read Sellar and Yeatman's "1066 and all that" will have an idea what to expect.
Still, I learned a lot from it - it was certainly much more than a list of names and events.

1455 Makers of England, by Arthur Bryant (read 25 June 1977) This was read when, on June 18 I learned we were going to England in September. This book covers the period of English history to the accession of Edward I in 1272. It is quite good, but lacks a systematic chronology. It is kind of a commentary. In view of my underappreciation of the book I was not sure that I would read Volume II, called The Age of Chivalry. Next month you will learn whether I did and what I thought of it (if I did). ( )