The Story of England is an epic tale tracing one village through pre-history to the present day, presented by a power house of a historian.

The choice of village is interesting – firstly the village of Kibworth is roughly at the centre of England in the midlands (Wood is keen to point out that this is an English village and history – those of Scotland and Wales have a different trajectory). Secondly the village has been under the tenure of Merton College, Oxford. As such the college was a meticulous record keeper and these records make up the bulk of Wood’s researches. Wood has no local connections to the area, which I think helps with his god-like view.

Per chance Kibworth has some more interesting aspects that build into a complex story. The village is in two main parts – Kibworth Beachamp and Kibworth Harcourt. Seemingly forever these two areas have been seen, respectively, as the poorer place where the workers live and the more affluent abode of the landowners. It is these traditions and trends that stretch through time to the invaders of Romans and Vikings that fascinate again and again. The recurring family names and personalities are, as you might imagine, prominent in this book. In village life continuity is important.

Wood is at his most professional when confronted with the fragments of data that come before the Doomsday book and the Merton College rolls. The odd, tantalising scrap from an ancient burial site or a recovered Roman belt found nearby are examined and analysed. However these glints of what was are never extrapolated into some grand theory – the evidence is kept neutral and fits into the wider story of what we know must have been happening.

The problem with this book is that it needs a sequel. Wood’s history stops rather abruptly at the last century which is rushed through in a few pages. I can understand this as this is the realm of local historians, photography and mass media – its also the area covered by our history lessons and would nessesarily touch on real people who are still living. But Wood’s history wills you to carry on and find out about key areas of the town’s progress in the same vein. How did the war and post war housing projects affect the town? When did the telephone come? When did the roads overtake the railway? Did the conservative government of the 80s harm or boost its prospects? How has the difference between Beachamp and Harcourt developed? This gripe is really a testament to the fact that this history book is in fact a page turner of the highest order by a master of his craft.

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