The second in Peter Ackroyd's series on the history of England: satisfying, but lacks some of the crackle and spark of the first volume, "Foundations".

Ackroyd's strength lies in making complex events breezy and accessible - offering the key facts with just enough analysis and overarching thematics without getting bogged down in dry historiography. However, I thought his book on the Tudor period lacked some of the journalistic flair of the first instalment. There were far fewer tasty little diversions that described life as experienced by the common man in the period, which was a shame as I thought these little tack-ons would come to characterise the series.

Still, it was a joy to read and filled in some gaps in my knowledge about the English Reformation. Worth a go.