This Little Britain: How One Small Country Changed the Modern World

by Harry Bingham

Celebratory, witty and incredibly insightful, Harry Bingham explores the eccentricities and customs of the British nation in a bid to answer a question which has everyone debating – Who are we?For the British, ‘Who are we?’ is an oddly difficult question. Although our national self-assessment usually notes a number of good points (we’re inventive, tolerant and at least we’re not French), it lists a torrent of bad ones too. Our society is fragmented and degenerate. Our kids are thugs, our workers ill-educated, our public services abysmal. We drink too much. Our house prices are crazy, our politicians sleazy, our roads jammed, our football team rubbish. When ‘The Times’ invited readers to suggest new designs for the backs of British coins, one reader wrote in saying, ‘How about a couple of yobs dancing on a car bonnet or a trio of legless ladettes in the gutter?’Is there really nothing to be proud of? British inventors have been responsible for myriad marvels we now take for granted, from the steam engine to the world wide web. British medical and public health innovations – vaccination, integrated mains sewerage, antiseptic surgery – have saved far more lives than all other medical innovations put together. And why stop there? The British empire covered a quarter of the earth’s surface but used an army smaller than that of Switzerland to exert its rule. The world speaks our language. Our scientists have won vast numbers of Nobel Prizes. The evolution of ‘habeas corpus’, trial by jury and the abolition of torture aren’t purely British in inspiration, but owe more to us than to anyone else. Our parliamentary democracy has been hugely influential in spreading ideals of liberty and representative government round the world.If the modern world is richer, freer, more peaceful, more democratic and healthier than it was, then Britain has played a leading role in that transformation. This book is about just that. Taking a particular interest in the many things that we did first, or best, or most, or were the only ones ever to do, this book focuses especially on those of our oddities that spread across the world – everything from football to the rule of law.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature

362 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Harry Bingham is best known for his Fiona Griffiths crime series, which has drawn rave reviews from critics, authors and readers alike.

If you've read and enjoyed one of Harry's books, make diddle-darn sure that you've signed up to the Fiona Griffiths Readers Club, by hopping right over here:
http://www.harrybingham.com/lev-in-gl...

You'll get a free, lovely welcome gift - and you'll be the very first to know when Fiona Griffiths is back with a further adventure . . .

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book about how basically Britain came up with everything in the world (or perfected it, i.e. the rules for lacrosse) ;o) It's really a 'Rah-Rah!' book for British folk, but quite funny and informative for the rest of us as well.

[Christopher Dove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2007, well before the current round of culture wars. This is a celebration of Great Britain and how it has contributed so significantly to shaping the modern world. As the author himself describes the book - 'This book is about British exceptionalism, forty-three short chapters picking out various aspects of our history where the British way has differed sharply from the ways of others.' The book looks at our contribution under a range of headings including literature, law, war and science. One of the things I love about this book is the way it challenges accepted orthodoxies. To take just one example, it is taken for granted that the reason Britain has not been invaded since 1066 is that it is an island, thus making invasion particularly difficult. Firstly, the book points out that actually there have been 10 successful invasions since 1066 - although most of these have been rebel forces come to take the crown. Secondly, being surrounded by water actually made us more vulnerable as the state of the roads made movement difficult. Moving large armies and equipment by sea was relatively easy. I highly recommend this book.

[Ben Langleben · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intelligent, thematic review of the particularism and greatness of these isles. Among many achievements, Bingham reclaims the true legacy of the Magna Carter, and reminds us of our nation's contributions to the world from agriculture to industry, from literature to recreation, from law to economy, and in ending slavery and torture.

To happen to read this as the people of Scotland were given the autonomy to choose to remain within the greatness of Britain both put that debate into perspective and added to our record of doing that which few if any others would contemplate.

[Tom Paver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just getting stuck in to this highly entertaining read for the second time and it's as fresh and vigorous as the first.

For all Britons' cynicism, theirs is a remarkable country which, this book claims, can reasonably be said to have shaped our modern world more than any other nation. Whether you believe that or not, you'll love this highly entertaining canter through its list of exceptional contributions and achievements and you'll doff your cap to Blighty whether you want to or not.

["Cyril' (David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly positive review of the history of the UK, but also amazingly well balanced.
Most interesting fact to me: The Stamp Act was primarily passed to put opposition newspapers out of business in ENGLAND.

[Christopher Prew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting info.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just started reading. It's a bit of a bathroom/coffee table book with short chapters about verious aspects of Britain. Quite amusing, interesting facts, first section about language so I'm enjoying it!

[Martin Willoughby · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the positive things in British history.

[Dave Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative, but must be taken with a pinch of salt!
Enjoyable British humour, often of the typical, self deprecating variety.

[The Catchpole Agency]

We read this aloud and very much enjoyed it, though our politics probably aren't exactly in line with Harry Bingham's. Very worth reading.

[Hettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this were amazing and I really enjoyed learning about why English doesn't have masculine and feminine words and why our verb endings are so simple. However later in the book it got really heavy going and I found it much more of a struggle.

[Iain Parkes]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14787748