- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Penguin UK; New edition edition (Oct 30 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0140267239
- ISBN-13: 978-0140267235
- Product Dimensions: 19.5 x 12.8 x 2.7 cm
- Shipping Weight: 227 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,190,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
What is it about the English? Not the British overall, not the Scots, not the Irish or Welsh, but the English. Why do they seem so unsure of who they are? As Jeremy Paxman remarks in his preface to The English, being English "used to be so easy". Now, with the Empire gone, with Wales and Scotland moving into more independent postures, with the troubling spectre of a united Europe(and despite the raucous hype of "Cool Britannia"), the English seem to have entered a collective crisis of national identity.
Jeremy Paxman has set himself the task of finding just what exactly is going on. Why, he wonders, "do the English seem to enjoy feeling so persecuted? What is behind the English obsession with games? How did they acquire their odd attitudes to sex and food? Where did they get their extraordinary capacity for hypocrisy?" He ranges widely in pursuit of answers, sifting through literature, cinema and history. It is an intriguing investigation, encompassing many aspects of national life and character (such as it is), including the obligatory visit to that baffling phenomenon, the funeral of Princess Diana. Yet Paxman finds something fresh and interesting to say about even that now rather threadbare topic. In the end, he seems to find further questions to ask instead of answers. But why not? To him it is a sign that the English are acquiring a new sense of self. And some indication of this might lie in the obvious response to his remark that the English, being top of the British Imperial tree, had nicknames for the fellow nationalities--Jock, Taffy, Paddy and Mick--but there was no corresponding name for an Englishman. Of course, there is now, and it comes from one of the bits of empire to which so many undesirables were exported: Whinging Pom. --Robin Davidson
Review
Intelligent, well-written, informative and funny...A book to chew on, dip into, quote from and exploit in arguments -- Andrew Marr Observer Bursting with good things Daily Telegraph
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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First Sentence
Once upon a time the English knew who they were. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Once upon a time the English knew who they were. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, insightful, July 18 2011
By susiedp - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: English (Paperback)
Honestly, as a Brit, this book is thoroughly entertaining and really, truly informative. All sorts of little gems whether historical, political, or simply hitherto unknowns. This is the sort of book that you can read straight through or just keep by the bed to dip into. Incredibly well researched. Yes, sure, it's older (1999) but just bear that in mind. It is quite possible that some of the childhood touchstones may be more pertinent to someone who grew up in the UK, but perhaps not much more than I experience reading a host of American non-fiction books? Dry, wry, witty, sardonic, entertaining, intelligent and... I'm here to buy a second copy having left my last one on a plane.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Among the best books ever, April 4 2012
By Egoman - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: English (Paperback)
Readable, witty, informative,...probably one of the best books written about the English and everything related to them. I am looking forward to reading this book again.
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
not worth reading, July 6 2010
By Caraculiambro - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: English (Paperback)
If perchance you're thinking of using this book to get to know the English better but are not yourself English, you're going to have to go elsewhere. This book is written by an Englishman as a sort of sardonic take on the national character. As such, it contains many references to people, places, and events that probably only someone who grew up in England would get.And if you're thinking of using this as part of a cultural studies or intercultural communication course, you can forget it. It's far too literate. The whole level of the thing, it's like it was designed to elicit wry smiles from the crowd of people who read The New Yorker, the Atlantic, Best American Essays, etc.
Another problem is the publication date (1999), which means that, even though it's only ten years old, it's out-of-date regarding Britian's problem with immigrants.
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