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Patriots: National identity in Britain, 1940-2000
Who are the British today? For nearly three hundred years British national identity was a unifying force in times of glory and times of despair. This book explores the decline of Britishness and the rise of powerful new identities in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. A major work from a brilliant young historian that superbly synthesizes social, cultural, political and economic history, Patriots promises to set the agenda for discussions of national identity in Britain for years to come.
1024 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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September 26, 2009
Very impressive account of the fate of British identity during the second half of the 20th century. In many ways a follow-on from Linda Colley's book, 'Britons', but with a more partisan Orwellian thrust to the argument.
Colley's identification of Protestantism as the core of British identity had been considerably modified by the beginning of WWII, but still remained in the expectation that state institutions, the monarchy, parliament, the BBC, etc would maintain it as a bias in its narrative about national life. But the critical event was WWII itself, and the opportunities that gave to the maintenance of the 'our island story' myth.
In his conclusion Weight states that Britain was forced by the English to secure its home base as it began its really great adventure in imperialism. The Scots, Northern Irish, and to a lesser extent Welsh, saw advantages in joining in this enterprise and were prepared to either sacrifice national sovereignity (Scotland) or the hope of recovering it (Welsh)to the chance to participate. But the post-war unravelling of the imperial project meant that the glue which had held the Union together became unstuck. For Weight, the significant stroy during the past three decades has been the failure of the English elites to generate a replacement for empire as the basis for keeping the British nations together.
Godd book - well worth the trouble of plowing through its 700 pages.
Colley's identification of Protestantism as the core of British identity had been considerably modified by the beginning of WWII, but still remained in the expectation that state institutions, the monarchy, parliament, the BBC, etc would maintain it as a bias in its narrative about national life. But the critical event was WWII itself, and the opportunities that gave to the maintenance of the 'our island story' myth.
In his conclusion Weight states that Britain was forced by the English to secure its home base as it began its really great adventure in imperialism. The Scots, Northern Irish, and to a lesser extent Welsh, saw advantages in joining in this enterprise and were prepared to either sacrifice national sovereignity (Scotland) or the hope of recovering it (Welsh)to the chance to participate. But the post-war unravelling of the imperial project meant that the glue which had held the Union together became unstuck. For Weight, the significant stroy during the past three decades has been the failure of the English elites to generate a replacement for empire as the basis for keeping the British nations together.
Godd book - well worth the trouble of plowing through its 700 pages.
Displaying 1 of 1 review