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Ancestors
- A Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials
- Narrated by: Alice Roberts
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
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Publisher's Summary
An extraordinary exploration of the ancestry of Britain through seven burial sites. By using new advances in genetics and taking us through important archaeological discoveries, Professor Alice Roberts helps us better understand life today.
We often think of Britain springing from nowhere with the arrival of the Romans. But in Ancestors, pre-eminent archaeologist, broadcaster and academic Professor Alice Roberts explores what we can learn about the very earliest Britons, from burial sites and by using new technology to analyse ancient DNA.
Told through seven fascinating burial sites, this groundbreaking prehistory of Britain teaches us more about ourselves and our history: how people came and went and how we came to be on this island. It explores forgotten journeys and memories of migrations long ago, written into genes and preserved in the ground for thousands of years.
This is a book about belonging: about walking in ancient places, in the footsteps of the ancestors. It explores our interconnected global ancestry, and the human experience that binds us all together. It’s about reaching back in time, to find ourselves and our place in the world.
Critic Reviews
"This is a terrific, timely and transporting book - taking us heart, body and mind beyond history, to the fascinating truth of the prehistoric past and the present." (Bettany Hughes)
What listeners say about Ancestors
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Karen
- 27-12-2021
Very informative book.
I have watched and enjoyed Alice Roberts TV documentaries. The way she narrated this book brought the scenes alive in her voice. Very enjoyable . Thankyou.
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- Janet Susans
- 28-01-2023
Fascinating
I love Alice Robert’s voice and this was an extremely interesting book. The author has brought the history of Britain to life.
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- S.Attenborough
- 27-06-2021
Absolutely Excellent
Highly recommend and beautifully performed. Thank you Alice for my gaining of perspective into who went before and how the past is vitally important today.
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- Helen Engstrom
- 30-07-2023
Archaeology fascinating; politics not so much
The reports of recent archaeological discoveries are fascinating. So much is revealed by new scientific techniques and field work. So interesting, and the author reads her work well. What I didn’t realise however when buying the book is that a book about pre-history, history, and archaeology would include the political lectures about contemporary issues of gender and race that the author indulges in. It would be preferable if Professor Robert’s stuck with her own field of expertise, rather than using the platform archaeology gives her to expound her own views on current politics.
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- Paul Hannah
- 27-07-2021
Professor Roberts is amazing.
This is a marvelous book full of fascinating detail and insights into our predecessors, illuminating by looking at our past, what it is to be human. Do yourself a favour and listen to this book. Twice.
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- jeff
- 29-05-2023
Burial customs through time in Great Britain
A thorough if dry description of changing burial customs ,generally interesting and more or less scientific in nature .
I could have done without the personal opinions and ideas on Life , Death and life after same, Racism ,the Universe, revisionist history and not forgetting Religion at points throughout and at the end of this epic.
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- LD
- 13-08-2022
Fascinating
Alice Roberts is my favourite educator. Ancestors has added another building block to my knowledge and understanding- it just makes me want more. Thank you Professor
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- Ross Palethorpe
- 26-08-2022
Thought-provoking and engaging
I spread out listening to this as I didn't want it to end. Fascinating, thoughtful, and a very human perspective on what we can learn (and what we can't!) about the distant past.
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- Anonymous User
- 21-03-2023
Interesting and insightful book.
I'm going to go and find another Alice Roberts book to listen to now. The human journey is a fascinating one.
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- Sonya
- 29-09-2021
Strong start, then veered off course
I was so excited to start this book. It began so well, but then it somehow dissolved into a rant about religion. After thirty minutes of listening to the author talk about how ridiculous it was for people in the past to think that God made things happen, I had to stop listening. If you’re going to write a book about ancestors, you can’t rag on previous generations for their belief systems. It takes all the fun out of looking into the past when you make fun of the people who were there.
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3 people found this helpful