This beautifully-produced book can justly be described as the only good, up-to-date history of Israel currently available; North's work is naively negative and unsatisfying by comparison. Bright's book is comprehensive and well documented, ably surveying the whole period from before the patriarchs to the Maccabean revolt, covering theological, 'spiritual' history as well as the political, in a Prologue, six 'parts' (of two chapter each) and an Epilogue.