By Sathnam Sanghera (author) , Jen Khatun (illustrator)
"This accessible presentation of the history and legacy of the British Empire is essential reading, and thoroughly engaging"
Paperback In Stock £8.99 £8.09
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June 2023 Non-Fiction Book of the Month
Accessible and enlightening, with complex, vital history explained with clarity, Sathnam Sanghera’s Stolen History is, quite simply, a powerful, transformative must-read for all British youngsters.
The honest, personal style of the introduction is a smart way to encourage young readers to understand the relevance of history: “History bored me to tears at school. I couldn’t see how spending a whole term learning about the Stone Age was going to help me live my life.”
From this, Sanghera moves to explain how learning about the British Empire is eminently relevant to all contemporary Britons. And the reason? “It explains so much about Britain as a nation, including where our money comes from, the stuff we find in our museums, the reason the country is home to citizens of all different backgrounds, the food we eat, the words we use and so much more.”
Throughout, Sanghera presents case studies readers will really relate to, from the reason cricket is played around the world, and why tea became seen as the quintessential English drink, to the role the Empire played in Sunday roasts, and its connection to Wembley Stadium.
Always honest and wise, the final “What can I do?” chapter arms youngsters with vital questions they can ask of teachers and museum staff, along with comebacks they can present to adults who don’t fully address issues around the British Empire.
An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British empire for readers aged 9+, by bestselling author of Empireland, Sathnam Sanghera.
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An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British empire for readers aged 9+, by bestselling author of Empireland , Sathnam Sanghera.
You've probably heard the word 'empire' before. Perhaps because of the Roman empire. Or maybe even the Star Wars films. But what about the British Empire? Why don't we learn much about this? And what even is an empire, anyway?
This book will answer all the important questions about Britain's imperial history. It will explore how Britain's empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth, and how it still affects our lives in many ways today - from the words we use, to the food we eat, the sports we play and even to every grown-up's fixation with a good cup of tea. Because how can we ever make the world a kinder, better place for the future, if we don't know the truth about the past?
I've resisted suggestions that I write a kids' book on empire on the grounds that I didn't want to sanitise the history. But I think I've found a tone that allows me to be both honest and entertaining. I'm really excited that kids might soon have access to knowledge about the British Empire that I only stumbled across at the age of 45. Becoming at ease with this history is essential to Britain becoming a saner country. - Sathnam Sanghera
'Stolen History is the perfect book for every school. All our young people need to know the truth about the British Empire. This book is accessible, expertly written and hugely important.' -- Jasbinder Bilan - Award Winning Children's Author
Sathnam Sanghera was born to Punjabi immigrant parents in Wolverhampton in 1976. He entered the education system unable to speak English but went on to graduate from Christ's College, Cambridge with a first class degree in English Language and Literature. He has been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards twice, for his memoir The Boy With The Topknot and his novel Marriage Material. Empireland has been longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. He lives in London.
Find him on Instagram @sathnamsanghera
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Very interesting and not your usual boring history book. This one was funny and easy to read. I never knew a lot of this stuff.
As the author says, we are not generally taught about the British Empire in school and he is right, I wasn’t.
I’ve learnt so many things: ‘For a while Liverpool was the largest site for building slave ships in Britain’; ‘In the early 1900s the British Empire covered a quarter of the planet’; 44% of medical staff in the NHS are from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
This book has equipped me with facts about Britain’s past and my family’s past.... Read Full Review
An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British empire for readers aged 9+, by bestselling author of Empireland, Sathnam Sanghera. You've probably heard the word 'empire' before.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Stolen History and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Stolen History features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Featured Books for 11+ readers, History, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Star Books, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
Stolen History was written by Sathnam Sanghera and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
Stolen History has 191 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
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