Secret Britain

Considering many of us will not be travelling internationally this year due to COVID-19, this makes for an excellent substitute in the form of an arm chair travel. Most sites of the British Isles are covered how ever many surprisingly were not. I would have liked more attention given to sites in Ireland for example. This does not however distract from the book and the accompanying photography is superb.

*eArc provided by the publisher and NetGalley

I love the Series that Mary=Ann stars in that focuses on the Mysteries of Great Britain. It has humor and two really likeable hosts that take you on a journey that is well planned out and by the time the show is over you are smarter, entertained , and looking forward to more adventures. Secret Britain is the book that matched the program that I watch religiously. The topics covered carry amazing photos and stories that cover all the possibilities and what science and the mystic think about the subject. I am particularly interested in Megaliths and the photos in the book were colorful, and the right size to allow me to understand what they look like without being there.There is a map that gives the sites location and they are numbered in a logical order. From northen Britain to the south the curious, mystical and magical places of lore are shown, discussed, and the reader left to decide which I really like. The tone is respectful to the cultures that made these items and why they did ( or why we think they made them ) is given importance. This is a great book to look at and own yet alone read. I really liked it.

Done Right

These sorts of collections run a wide gamut - from cut and paste jobs cribbed from dubious Wikipedia pages to elegant scholarly works. This book fits quite nicely toward the high end of the scale in terms of breadth and content. Of almost equal importance, unlike many otherwise fine books, this volume is loaded with high quality photos, drawings, and diagrams.

It is very frustrating when a book goes into detail about some gorgeous site or item of historical or artistic significance, but leaves you without any illustration beyond maybe a pencil sketch or, worse, a dreamy pastel watercolor impression of the subject. Then it's "off to the internet" to actually look at what you've just read about. That's fine for real research, but deadly if you're mainly looking for an armchair diversion to hold in one hand while you have a comforting dram in the other hand.

Here, the book delivers. If we are going to read about The Ness of Brodgar, then we get an aerial view of The Ness of Brodgar and a ground level view of the Ness of Brodgar. Sometimes we get a schematic or a site plan. The Desborough Mirror is beautiful, so I want to see at least a photo of it while I read. Here, you do. Same for the Westray Wifey. As I say, the book delivers the goods.

And such a selection. There are 75 formal entries, (art pieces, circles, henges, buildings, caves, mysteries), and references to many more. We travel through Scotland, Wales, and England. (Sorry, no Ireland.) I could have used more Wales, but I'm biased so that doesn't count as a criticism.

Pretty pictures, though, aren't enough if the narrative is off. Here we get a text that is congenial, knowledgeable, and a fine balance between academic and popular. This isn't tourist office salesmanship, but rather descriptions that seem sound from a scholarly point of view, yet grounded in a basic appreciation for the strangeness, attraction, and beauty of the subjects. Our author is a cheerful and engaging companion.

So, I'm always a bit hesitant with books like this because you never know what you'll get. This one was delightful and will sit quite comfortably next to my armchair.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

When I'm in Britain I can't help but wonder what lies beneath my feet. Are bumps and mounds treasures? Burial pits? Castles? Walking where others walked thousands of years ago leaves me in awe and very curious.

In her magnificent book, Mary-Ann Ochota tantalizes with fascinating facts and stories and both answers questions and asks questions. Part of the allure of ancients' lives is the perplexing mysteries. When you see photographs of unmatchable intricate gold trinkets and skeletons buried in strange but deliberate positions you ask, why? And how? This book contains mystery after mystery, from 33,000 years ago to 1916.

Much of the focus is on lesser-known sites and objects which had me clinging to every word, not wanting it to end. Though I've been to a few places mentioned such as Avebury, Fortingall, Hadrian's Wall and Tintagel there are so, so many more places I Iong to see as a result of reading this. I hadn't heard of "wifeys", the Ness site on Orkney, recumbent stones in Aberdeenshire, Greenstead Church and countless others.

Why were eagles buried with people? What were carved stone balls for? What did the hooded figures signify? What were Romans thinking when they created cryptic messages in mosaics?

Rituals, spiritualism and magic were often central to life and this book does a superb job of blending every topic seamlessly. The photographs are breathtaking and evocative and the maps and illustrations very helpful. Humans have yet to discover answers to many unsolvable questions but that's appealing. The illustrations and photography allow the reader to envision and build bits of puzzles here and there.

The writing isn't textbook-ish and very easy to read...everything flows so well. I have read another book by this author and now will read all I can find.

Anyone contemplating studying prehistoric and ancient Britain needs to read this. To those attracted to the lure of true mysteries, history and beautiful artifacts, please prioritize this book. It will be amongst the top Nonfiction books for me this year. The subject matter is a favourite of mine and I will definitely buy a hard copy to have on hand.

My sincere thank you to the author, Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion and NetGalley for the privilege of reading a digital ARC in return for an honest review. Much appreciated.

This beautifully illustrated title will be enjoyed by those who are interested in the British Isles, history, archaeology and more. It is a beautifully photographed and wide-ranging tile.

The author begins with an introduction, a timeline and a map. She follows this with the many places where she is interested in “unearthing our mysterious past,” as the title of the book notes.

There are so many places included. To name some there are the Tomnaverie Recumbent Stone Circle, Seahenge, Must Farm, Snettisham Treasures, the Dagenham Idol and Stonehenge. The geography includes Kent, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Moray and many more locations. The first object featured is the Westray Wifey which is over 5,000 years old and was found on Orkney. There are so many more to follow.

This book can be dipped into or read in its entirety. I very much enjoyed the time that I spent with this fascinatiing title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley. All opinions are my own.

This was a really good book, succinctly showing us the wonders of the British Isles that we can't fully explain. Standing stone rings, unusual artefacts whose use and/or creators are never to be known of again, and copious other ruins and landmarks – all are here, and the benefits of the book are evident in how many I had never heard of. A highly pictorial stance means some items are dismissed with just a paragraph, but I didn't find those too short – the picture editor has done a great job in both making this book look great and making sure most pictures told the necessary thousand words. None of the entries outstay their welcome (despite perhaps a little too much in the way of speculation), and it was all a bit too much to not book a few grand tours of remote Scotland, etc, to go and see the things and places in the flesh. For a primer to Fortean Britain, this is way up there.

I love all things dealing with Great Britain, most especially historical aspects. I felt like this would be the perfect book for me, since during the COVID pandemic, there won't be much travel involved. It makes it an excellent time for an arm chair trip. The book details most sites of the British Isles, and yet, surprisingly, many were not. I would have enjoyed further information about, and more attention given to, Irish sites. This does not however, distract from the plethora of information in the book and the accompanying photographs are wonderful. I definitely recommend this book.

I would like to thank Mary-Ann Ochota, Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Secret Britain is an immensely interesting book with beautiful photographs showcasing items and landscapes marked by history. It is astonishing to see remnants of Stone Age (and later) civilisations just sitting out there in nature, or just around the corner. The United Kingdom is so full of history and it's simply amazing that traces of people long before us are there - and that more is being discovered all the time.

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for this virus to go away so that I can travel to the UK again without restrictions.

This book is the armchair archaeologist's dream! It's written in an enthusiastic, easy to understand voice that brings to life British Archaeological finds from across the ages. I added many must-see places to my travel list after reading, and look forward to finding out more. It feels appropriate for adults and teens with an interest in Britain and archaeology.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Secret Britain is an amazing book about the British Isles and many unexplained and often mysterious and creepy things. The photography in this book is fantastic and I really enjoyed learning about so many mysterious and unexplained things that have bee discovered and unearthed in the UK.
I'd love to visit some of these places in the flesh!
Each place and piece of history is fantastically described and has at least a page of information about it and some pieces I couldn't pull my eyes away from!

A brilliantly written romp through the physical history of Great Britain, connecting mystery to history through well-known sites and sites that are a little off the beaten path.

An excellent book for an armchair travel, perfect for these times when we cannot travel.
I loved the amazing photos and discovered a lot of unknown to me places,. They are well described and I loved the style of writing.
An excellent book that made me wish to see these places in person.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Mary-Ann Ochota's SECRET BRITAIN is the perfect deep dive into places and times I know nothing about -- taking me out of my everyday life and into an incredible tour of mysterious sites and artifacts throughout Britain. As an American, I was completely unfamiliar with the countryside and vast riches of a land that has been populated for thousands of years by natives and invaders who left their sacred, their riches, their meaningful marks. Ochota starts this remarkable tour with "When you stop and look, magic happens. The wonders transport you into the secret lives of ancient people." Her deep knowledge and expertise are shared with accessible language that evokes the history, the people, and the times long before us -- I felt like I shared time with a comfortable friend with loads of stories to share. Also in the introduction, Ochota states "Archeology is often focused on the how....But I invite you to explore the more elusive question: Why?" I loved spending time roaming and roving and digging into places I never knew would so captivate, so entrance, and so delight me. This is a remarkable, most enjoyable guide written with all the power and eloquence of a passionate fellow wonderer.

Secret Britain is the perfect book to pick up during a global pandemic. For the armchair archaeologist, it serves as a fascinating insight into some of the ancient relics scattered around the country, and the wonderful images will instantly transport you into historical times. And when we're once more free to travel it will serve as a guide book, unearthing the historical breadcrumbs that litter our landscape.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
Are you a parent fresh from attempting homeschooling during the pandemic? I certainly am and I really wish I’d had this book with me a few months ago. I used the Summer Solstice and Stonehenge for a history project with my son and he’s become fascinated with medieval Britain as a result. So even though I’ve thankfully handed back the reigns of his education back to his teachers now, I’m delighted to be able to share this book with my son and expand his knowledge and interest. I might add that goes for me also. Sure, we’ve all heard of Tintagel with the King Arthur legends and the Uffington White Horse chalk hill figure, right? But did you know much about Calanais, the Cladh Hallan Mummies, or Must Farm (known as the Pompeii of the Fens)? No, me neither! Isn’t Britain just so rich in history to discover and aren’t we lucky enough to still be able to see these medieval places and objects? This book is visually very appealing with really beautiful photography and some absolutely fascinating facts, written in an engaging and informative manner. I’m definitely considering buying a physical copy of this book to add to our home library as I can certainly see this being used for many homework projects and also to satisfy my son’s love of medieval history.

If you have a young reader who is interested in history, this is a great book for them! I read this aloud with my boys, and we all enjoyed it! Great pictures, engaging, and the flow of the book keeps the reader engaged!

Discover more of Britain's treasures in this delightful read!

I read this through NetGalley, so thank you to them.

Because I read it electronically on a relatively small device, I really didn't get the most of this book. The text is fascinating, but the pictures are incredible, and it was hard to really see these on a phone. This is a big, luscious book, and I'd love to actually hold it. And maybe stroke it.

Ochota takes us on a tour of the British Isles, looking at some ancient (and a few not so ancient) places and artefacts. There are lots of places here I really want to visit, and there were lots of things I hadn't heard before. Sometimes beautiful books are short on actual information, but this one has plenty of factual stuff to chew over, and a great sense of what is strange and wonderful.

This book is full of amazing history. There are plenty of clear and well written descriptions and many fantastic photographs too. A variety of archeological sites are explored and explained in a non technical yet very engaging way. Many books of this nature would be dry and boring - this is far from that! The manner in which the content has been set out with attention to timeline and location takes the reader on a brilliant journey of discovery, I found myself drawn in and very interested in each chapter. I imagine this book will appeal to a hugely wide variety of readers; from the educational angle, to using it as a guide book for travel and for everything in between. There is definitely something for everyone inside these very informative pages.

Secret Britain is a wonderful guide to (mostly) unknown sites in Britain - perfect for the traveler looking for historic sites.

A number of archaeology books are either rush jobs with little merit or more likely, so dense they feel as though they were written for a PhD thesis. Neither versions contain photos. All of that said, Secret Britain fits neither description and contains lots of high-quality photos.

Instead of reading about archaeological finds from thousands of years ago and wondering what the hell the author is talking about, Ochota writes in perfectly clear, understandable terms and offers photographic evidence.

Ochota discusses the Aberlemno Pictish Stones by giving a thorough background of the Pictish people of northeastern Scotland. She also gives a clear description with all of the details of the stones. Additionally, she shows the stones, as well as other Pictish artwork.

Ochota’s descriptions of the artwork would be incomplete without the photographs. With the photos and descriptions, the reader walks away with a clear understanding of the subject, as well as a detailed knowledge that explains the artwork better with background history.

There are plenty of examples, too. In all, Secret Britain contains 75 archaeological sites and the book contains a map to help those who wish to visit these sites or even just to give a better geographical picture. Ochota, who stars on the tv show Mystic Britain, finds a good balance between academic (she graduated from Cambridge) and popular (comparing archaeology to a “fairground hall of mirrors.”). Ordinarily, I approach archaeology books with caution, but Secret Britain finds a great balance—visually arresting, informative and interesting.

Oh my, what a book. What a marvellous, engaging, beautifully photographed and well-researched book.
I read this book as a review copy, and read it from cover to cover, devouring the narrative, the gorgeous photographs and easy to read layout. This book has so much information, but no so much that it reads like a thesis, so the reader doesn't get bogged down in minutiae of detail, but enough to encourage you to find out more.
I have learned so much, and have recognised places I grew up knowing - Royston Cave and Glastonbury Tor.
For those who like historical context, there's a timeline, and for those who'd like to plan a trip, you have a map provided.
The variety of places and objects is vast, from all corners of Britain, and did I mention the photography at all? It's stunning.
Highly recommended in every possible way.