What do you think?
Rate this book
(Bang in the Middle) [By: Shore, Robert] [Apr, 2014]
A book to put the Midlands back on the map.
Everyone knows what they think of the North and South of England – the clichés abound. But what about that big, anonymous stretch of land in the Midlands? Despite being home to around a third of the English population, it’s a region that seems to have neither purpose nor identity. In this humorous exploration, the author – a Midlander exiled in London – sets off on a tour of the country’s belly in order to piece together his Midland heritage. What he discovers is nothing short of quietly, without fanfare, the Midlands have powered most of English – and not just a little of world – history.
The Industrial Revolution was forged there, as were the ideals of the Land of the Free and the theory of evolution. Shakespeare, world literature’s greatest genius, was born in the Midlands, as were Margaret Thatcher, Dr Johnson and Robbie Williams. It is the home of Robin Hood, Walker’s crisps, Marmite, Raleigh bikes and the balti. And that’s not music, fashion, sport – almost every domain of contemporary life has been reinvented and remoulded in the stoically self-effacing lands squeezed between the self-mythologising South and the narcissistic North. Why, we even have the Midlands to thank for the modern idea of sex. Join Robert Shore on a fascinating, and very funny, journey to the heart of our great nation.
Everyone knows what they think of the North and South of England – the clichés abound. But what about that big, anonymous stretch of land in the Midlands? Despite being home to around a third of the English population, it’s a region that seems to have neither purpose nor identity. In this humorous exploration, the author – a Midlander exiled in London – sets off on a tour of the country’s belly in order to piece together his Midland heritage. What he discovers is nothing short of quietly, without fanfare, the Midlands have powered most of English – and not just a little of world – history.
The Industrial Revolution was forged there, as were the ideals of the Land of the Free and the theory of evolution. Shakespeare, world literature’s greatest genius, was born in the Midlands, as were Margaret Thatcher, Dr Johnson and Robbie Williams. It is the home of Robin Hood, Walker’s crisps, Marmite, Raleigh bikes and the balti. And that’s not music, fashion, sport – almost every domain of contemporary life has been reinvented and remoulded in the stoically self-effacing lands squeezed between the self-mythologising South and the narcissistic North. Why, we even have the Midlands to thank for the modern idea of sex. Join Robert Shore on a fascinating, and very funny, journey to the heart of our great nation.
Paperback
First published March 27, 2014
4 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Robert Shore
42 books5 followersRobert Shore is a journalist, author and playwright. He is the editor of Elephant Magazine, a quarterly magazine on contemporary art and visual culture. He lives with his wife and young son, and is from Mansfield, in the Midlands.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 3, 2025
What a weird book written by an author with a huge chip on his shoulder. He criticises fellow writers Stuart Maconie and Paul Morley who to be honest write books this author can only dream about writing on the evidence of this book. He talks rubbish about the miners strike, belittles the Peterloo massacre and constantly talks about the North/South divide and why oh why are the Midlands not mentioned but never seems to consider that West and East are never mentioned either.
September 11, 2016
As a proud Northerner, not being overly familiar with most of the Midlands, I cannot verify or otherwise any of the information given in this book. However I found it to be a good read, humorous at times, well written and very informative. I suspect it will appeal mainly to those from Midlands, or those whose families originate from there.
A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
September 24, 2014
Robert Shore's account of a journey in search of a Midlands 'character' and 'identity' takes him all over the region, both in his car and through history books.
He comes across as likeable, and he has an easy writing style. His chapter on how the Midlands made heavy metal isn't just true, it inspired me to go and listen to some Motorhead.
He makes some strong points about the achievements of pioneering Midlanders like Josiah Wedgwood, Erasmus Darwin, William Shakespeare and Tony Iommi but never really finds or makes a clear argument for that 'character' or 'identity'.
There are some major weaknesses, though. The chapter I was most looking forward to, on Stoke-on-Trent (where I grew up) is, to be generous, pointless, dull and superficial.
There's the odd factual error and some of his claims (that people only question Shakespeare's authorship of his plays because he was from the Midlands, for one) are clearly him forcing things to fit his own, pre-decided narrative.
This is definitely 'history-lite' and it's mostly a fun read and then, very late in the book, Shore makes a very wise point about judging what people did in the past. "If the Victorians had known what we know today, they wouldn't have been the Victorians would they? They'd have been us."
He comes across as likeable, and he has an easy writing style. His chapter on how the Midlands made heavy metal isn't just true, it inspired me to go and listen to some Motorhead.
He makes some strong points about the achievements of pioneering Midlanders like Josiah Wedgwood, Erasmus Darwin, William Shakespeare and Tony Iommi but never really finds or makes a clear argument for that 'character' or 'identity'.
There are some major weaknesses, though. The chapter I was most looking forward to, on Stoke-on-Trent (where I grew up) is, to be generous, pointless, dull and superficial.
There's the odd factual error and some of his claims (that people only question Shakespeare's authorship of his plays because he was from the Midlands, for one) are clearly him forcing things to fit his own, pre-decided narrative.
This is definitely 'history-lite' and it's mostly a fun read and then, very late in the book, Shore makes a very wise point about judging what people did in the past. "If the Victorians had known what we know today, they wouldn't have been the Victorians would they? They'd have been us."
March 31, 2015
I really wanted to like this book but for me it misses the mark.
With his jokey style, he ends up belittling what he wants to celebrate. It's not a complete right off by any means. His passion for music is clear as he writes about heavy metal and the literature/ language sections were very good. However, the constant descriptions of how his family are interacting with him get in the way of what could have been a good travelogue. A shame.
With his jokey style, he ends up belittling what he wants to celebrate. It's not a complete right off by any means. His passion for music is clear as he writes about heavy metal and the literature/ language sections were very good. However, the constant descriptions of how his family are interacting with him get in the way of what could have been a good travelogue. A shame.
April 14, 2014
Well what a cracker of a book, and so amusing especially as I too come from the Midlands and found this most enlightening. Embarking on a journey to find out about yourself and your heritage is a bit daunting,didn't even know peo;le from the midlands have an accent and the anecdotes and places of interest the writer visited.
July 28, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyed it as a proud Midlander. Entertaining, amusing and educational. Sometimes the book was a little slow as a point was overdone e.g. about heavy metal. Received it as a gift on a visit to England from MA (USA) where I now live like my forefathers from The Midlands ! Recommended to friends as a book to dive into for background on the cities they have visited and to all Midlanders.
April 15, 2015
Great idea but poorly constructed - the basic premiss that the Midlands exists as a compete entity set against the binary difference of both the North and South is floored. As everyone knows the East Midlands is shite....
May 28, 2014
Fun and humorous book about Robert Shores journey to reconnect with his roots, and his quest to make this part of England more interessting to the rest of UKs population.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews