苦笑学堂优酷:有没有长一点的

找找英美概况方面的书籍

那里面的介绍可足够长 足够详细

英国的介绍,一些内容可以参考:)~~

The United Kingdom (or UK, or Britain), there are four very different countries making up the UK. England is still the dominant "partner", but also within the Union are Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Wales
Wales was the first country to "join" the Union, though by domination rather than choice. Wales was first conquered in 1282, but wasn't legally brought into the Union until 1536 and 1542 when Acts of Parliament were passed. The country remained subservient to England for many years until the 1900's when in 1907 a separate Welsh Secretary of Education was created. In 1957 a Minister of State for Wales was created and entered the Cabinet
in 1964.A general referendum in 1997 resulted in a small minority vote for a devolved Assembly for Wales.

Scotland
Scotland and England officially negotiated a Union in 1707,although in 1603 James VI of Scotland became James I of England and was King of both countries.Unlike Wales, the 1707 agreement was a jointly negotiated Union with advantages for both countries. Although England still remained the dominant partner, Scotland retained a separate legal system, educational system, local government and its own Church. As early as 1885 Scotland got its own Secretary of State for Scotland with cabinet recognition in 1892. The Scottish Office (a separate department within the Government) was established in 1928. A general referendum in 1997 resulted in a very clear majority in favour of a devolved Scottish Parliament with tax-varying powers.

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
Although England conquered Ireland (North and South) in the late 1400's and early 1500's, opposition to the English continued. Eventually in 1800 an Act of Union brought the whole of Ireland officially into the Union.This was technically a negotiated Union, but in reality only about 10% of the Irish people could vote.
After World War I (1914-1918) civil unrest (specifically the Easter
Uprising) resulted in the Irish Treaty of 1921 and thus created the
current division of Ireland. The south half of Ireland became the Republic of Ireland and the northern six counties stayed with the UK and became known as Northern Ireland.
From 1922 for 50 years, Northern Ireland governed itself. However, in 1968 civil unrest between Catholics and Protestants started and in 1972 Westminster intervened, took over government, and deployed British troops.

In 1998 a general referendum was held in both halves of Ireland with a majority vote for a Northern Ireland Assembly. However at the time of writing this Assembly has been suspended.

Until recently England was generally thought of as a gentle, fabled land freeze-framed sometime in the 1930s, home of the post office, country pub and vicarage. It's now better known for vibrant cities with great nightlife and attractions, contrasted with green and pleasant countryside.

From Stonehenge and Tower Bridge to Eton and Oxford, England is loaded with cherished icons of a past era. But it also does modernity with a confidence and panache left over from its days in the never-setting sun. Fashion, fine dining, clubbing, shopping - England's rates with the world's best.

想更多了解英国或找更多有关英国的资料可上下列网址：
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/england?

http://www.enjoyengland.com/