Publisher's Synopsis
Four complete BBC series written and presented by political commentator Andrew Marr. The modern history series 'The History of Modern Britain' (2007) focuses on the key events that have shaped British society since the end of the Second World War, including the collapse of Empire, Britain's uneasy truce with former enemies and allies in Europe, and tensions in the 'special relationship' Britain has with the United States. Episodes are: 'Advance Britannia', 'The Land of Lost Content', 'Paradise Lost', 'Revolution' and 'New Britannia'. In the follow-up series, 'The Making of Modern Britain' (2009), Marr gives an account of the events that shaped Britain from the death of Queen Victoria to the end of the Second World War, painting a vivid picture of a changing nation from the imperial power of the late Victorian age to the dawning of modern democracy, from Charlie Chaplin to Gracie Fields, and from the trenches and sea battles of the First World War to Britain's triumphant victory over fascism in 1945. The six-part series 'Britain from Above' (2008) traces the social and cultural life of the British Isles from an entirely new perspective - the air. Using helicopters, satellites, hang-gliders and planes, Marr maps the varied landscapes, distribution networks, and infrastructures that go to make up the lifeblood of these islands, meeting the people whose job it is to keep the myriad of national supply networks running smoothly. Episodes are: 'Man Made Britain', 'Britain's Landscape', 'Blue Britain', 'The Skyline of London', 'Britain's Bread Basket' and 'Industrial Landscape'. The three-part documentary series 'Darwin's Dangerous Idea' (2009) looks at the influence Charles Darwin's theory of evolution has had on subsequent generations. Mirroring Darwin's journey on HMS Beagle, Marr travels to South America, visiting Chile, Argentina, and Brazil to highlight some of the revolutionary concepts arrived at on the voyage. The series attempts to show how Darwin's ideas impacted not only on the world of science, but also in a wider religious context and beyond.