Union Jack: The Story of the British Flag

by Nick Groom

Known the world over as a symbol of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack is an intricate construction based on the crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick. Nick Groom traces its long and fascinating past, from the development of the Royal Standard and seventeenth-century clashes over the precise balance of the English and Scottish elements of the first Union Jack to the modern controversies over the flag as a symbol of empire and its exploitation by ultra-rightwing political groups. The Union Jack is the first history of the icon used by everyone from the royalty to the military, pop stars and celebrities.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2005

About the author

Nick Groom, known as the “Prof of Goth,” is professor of English at Exeter University, UK. His previous titles include The Gothic: A Very Short Introduction, and The Seasons: A Celebration of the English Year, which was shortlisted for the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award and came runner-up for BBC Countryfile Book of the Year.

Reviews

[Rupert Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book. As the title implies this book follows the story of the assorted flags that have symbolised England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales and how they came together to form the Union Jack [except Wales]. It also looks at the circumstances behind the long and winding road that led to the dynastic and political union of the British Isles.
The text also sketches in some legendary history, especially when the belief in those legends contributed to the flag. Ditto heraldic charges and supporters. There are some diversions down rabbit holes but they are usually interesting enough, so no harm done there.
There are only really two drawbacks that stopped me giving this five stars, neither of them very serious. The first is that the writing style is at times a bit ponderous. The second is one of my pet peeves that really gets under my skin. The author refers to the medieval Welsh states as "kingdoms" when they were really "principalities". I know why this is done, of course. In more recent years the title of Prince has come to be considered to be inferior to that of King. Since these states were not inferior, modern authors have begun to refer to them as kingdoms to emphasise their independent dignity. But they are wrong to do so. The title of King is an English/Germanic one. The Welsh rulers would never have used that themselves, much preferring the title of Prince which comes from the Latin "Princeps" which might be roughly translated as "first among equals" and more accurately described the constitutional position of a Welsh ruler than did the English "king" with its overtones of military command and superior nobility. Moan over. Buy the book, it is great fun.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written and fascinating book. By tracing the history of a flag Groom sheds light on the reality of the complex history of the United Kingdom. A book for our times to remind us of what Britain is and can be.

[Imogen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book about the union flag. I love how Groom is unbiased and brings Vexillology to life.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needs a lot more pictures for a book that describes a lot of imagery that is hard if not impossible to find online.

[Martin Raybould · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched book that which illustrates the importance of national symbolism without resorting to tub-thumbing, narrow-minded patriotism.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a fascinating book that goes much deeper than just telling the history of the Union Jack: for a start, it corrects the myth that I was taught at school that Union Jack is a derisory and insulting term for the flag that must always be referred to as the Union Flag (an Admiralty Circular from 1535 states that the two names are interchangeable). I would recommend this book to anybody interested in British history as a magnificent source of information: for instance, the White Ensign of the Royal Navy by using the cross of St George with the Union Jack on the canton position (upper left corner) is actually unconstitutional by the terms of the 1707 Act of Union. This book also goes on to explain why Wales is not represented on the Union Jack or the Royal Standard; and how and why the names England and English tend to be erroneously used when we mean Britain and British. This is a cracking good read.