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Who Do the English Think They Are?: From the Anglo-Saxons to Brexit
The English are often confused about who they are. They say ‘British’ when they mean ‘English’, and ‘English’ when they should say ‘British.’ But when England, more than the rest of the UK, voted to leave the EU, polls showed national identity was a big concern. So it’s time the English sorted out in their minds what it means to be English.
A nation’s character is moulded by its history. And in ‘Who Do the English Think They Are?’ historian and journalist, Derek J. Taylor travels the length and breadth of the country to find answers. He discovers that the first English came from Germany, and then in the later Middle Ages almost became French. He tracks down the origins of English respect for the rule of law, tolerance and a love of political stability. And, when he reaches Victorian times, he investigates the arrogance and snobbishness that have sometimes blighted English behaviour. Finally, Taylor looks ahead. He asks – faced with uncharted waters post-Brexit, what is it is in their national character that will help guide the English people now?
A nation’s character is moulded by its history. And in ‘Who Do the English Think They Are?’ historian and journalist, Derek J. Taylor travels the length and breadth of the country to find answers. He discovers that the first English came from Germany, and then in the later Middle Ages almost became French. He tracks down the origins of English respect for the rule of law, tolerance and a love of political stability. And, when he reaches Victorian times, he investigates the arrogance and snobbishness that have sometimes blighted English behaviour. Finally, Taylor looks ahead. He asks – faced with uncharted waters post-Brexit, what is it is in their national character that will help guide the English people now?
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2017
26 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Derek J. Taylor
8 books3 followersDerek Taylor studied law and history at Oxford, before joining Independent Television News of London. As an on-screen correspondent, he reported from Northern Ireland, Rome, South Africa, the USA and the Middle East, covering five wars. He spent seven months in Iran during the Islamic revolution, working for ABC News of America after US passport-holders were expelled - a time and place portrayed in the film Argo. In his later career, he became CEO of the world’s biggest TV news agency owned by The Associated Press of America. He now works as a historian, journalist and public speaker.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 13, 2019
The book makes use of anecdotes that - especially in early chapters - don't always feel connected to the history explained within that chapter, but for the most part, they're charming and help to set the scene; presupposing a working knowledge of, largely current, British culture to give them context.
Though not always necessary, the attention to accents when quoting other people is a nice touch.
Though not always necessary, the attention to accents when quoting other people is a nice touch.
June 30, 2020
My ongoing efforts to try and understand how we (that is, the English) come to be in the mess we’re in, with a Blackadder caricature Prime Minister and a govt. of incompetents, led me to this brisk historical sketch of the English character. It’s an entertaining read, informative too if not entirely accurate. Take Frederick Delius. Frederick Delius was born in Bradford to German parents. He did live in France. But he was emphatically not the ‘French composer’ this author says he was!
‘How very English,’ he writes towards the end of the book, ‘to bring down the ruling class not by violent revolution but by threatening to laugh at them.’ That said, the ruling class is down but not out. Eton has provided two of the last three Prime Ministers and accounts for the education of almost half of all current Tory MPs.
And the underlying thesis is wrong-headed too. The defining character of Englishness isn’t a benign tolerance whose only fault is perhaps that we put up with stuff for too long, not wanting to ‘make a fuss’. As the author himself points out, more people died in the English civil war than were killed in World War One. He could have added that the figure was also higher than that of the French Revolution, or that it was the tolerant English who burnt more Catholics during the Reformation than any other European country. Then there was the bloody suppression of Scots Highlanders following the defeated rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie. More recently, we seem only to be indulgently tolerant of those in our tribe; others are persecuted mercilessly. And yet the caricature continues. Perhaps we feel more P.G.Wodehouse and Jane Austen than Anthony Burgess. But there’s something very Clockwork Orange about us behind the bluff, blustering and buffoonish exterior.
‘How very English,’ he writes towards the end of the book, ‘to bring down the ruling class not by violent revolution but by threatening to laugh at them.’ That said, the ruling class is down but not out. Eton has provided two of the last three Prime Ministers and accounts for the education of almost half of all current Tory MPs.
And the underlying thesis is wrong-headed too. The defining character of Englishness isn’t a benign tolerance whose only fault is perhaps that we put up with stuff for too long, not wanting to ‘make a fuss’. As the author himself points out, more people died in the English civil war than were killed in World War One. He could have added that the figure was also higher than that of the French Revolution, or that it was the tolerant English who burnt more Catholics during the Reformation than any other European country. Then there was the bloody suppression of Scots Highlanders following the defeated rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie. More recently, we seem only to be indulgently tolerant of those in our tribe; others are persecuted mercilessly. And yet the caricature continues. Perhaps we feel more P.G.Wodehouse and Jane Austen than Anthony Burgess. But there’s something very Clockwork Orange about us behind the bluff, blustering and buffoonish exterior.
June 28, 2022
Starts off OK but as we get closer and closer to the present day the ancedotes become more tedious and the cracks really begin to show. There are a lot of difficult questions on English identity which Taylor doesn't seem keen to face head on. The way topics such as colonialism and women's right are dealt with is incredibly poor, borderline problematic. The classism in extracts on the Victorian working classes was particularly shocking. An obsession with the idea of political and social stability becomes the main point he continually circles back to from about half way in but he really struggles to properly investigate the issues this has caused in England particularly in terms of the control of the political classes and also seems to overlook times this hasn't been the case (most notably Brexit). As I got further into the book I seemed to be more and more often filling the margins with '?!??!?' annotations at some of the bizzare connections and speculations which were being put forward.
February 26, 2023
Rather than an academic historical or sociological study, this is a journalistic documentary, similar to what one sees so often on TV, where more time is spent on the narrator’s adventures and impressions when travelling to the site of interest, than on the site of interest itself. It’s lightweight infotainment, but makes for an easy and wryly amusing read.
Which I suppose is appropriate, as the whole concept of “nationality”, especially in a nation as diverse a melting pot of people as the English, is mainly based on emotion and common mythology - much of it squarely contradicted by historical fact. The mythology might have common elements across the nation, but it also highlights the considerable variation within that nation, with all the “us and them” posturing that comes with it. Don’t confuse a Geordie with a West Country man, or a Yorkshireman with a Lancastrian! Regional identities remain strong, with Englishness in the background. Nationality is all bullshit really. The author underlines that with a claim the English don’t see themselves as British despite over 300 years of union with Scotland. Bullshit, in my view.
What is more powerful today is cultural identity. This book makes a strong case for the Tudor age of reformation and counter reformation to be the real starting point of Englishness, and a demonstration that nationality is nothing to do with blood or location of birth, and all to do with adherence to a set of common values, a social contract. Cultural social cohesion endured to the mid 20th century, mainly by being imposed by the homogenous ruling class on the more diverse lower classes, but cannot continue in the Information Age where individuals can access other cultural identities from around the world that are more suited to their personality.
It is no surprise that nationalism is on the rise once more, pushed by those who are nostalgic for simplistic homogeneity in society, but the answer is not the exclusion and hate that is inherent in nationalism’s “us and them”, rather a clearer understanding of social contract is necessary to bring people together voluntarily rather than through force. Social contract is far more able to unite disparate individuals than nationalism, finding common ground for compromise without losing the richness of individuality.
As you might guess, I loathe nationalism. Despite being a socialist I am also an individualist. To me a modern society is made of different people in agreement and mutual respect, rather than made of clones forced to fit a mould created by self-appointed national “leaders”.
Does the author reach a conclusion on the starting question? No, actually. The best he can do is balance an English tendency to adaptability with an English dislike for change. That and eccentricity. In the end that shows the futility of the question. That describes everyone and no one. The English are far too diverse to be described as an entity. Like any nation.
The whole idea of trying to nail down a national identity is utterly futile. Some behaviours may well be characteristic, but no one is defined by just some characteristics.
So, was this a good read? Yes, it was entertaining. Is it worth reading again? No.
Which I suppose is appropriate, as the whole concept of “nationality”, especially in a nation as diverse a melting pot of people as the English, is mainly based on emotion and common mythology - much of it squarely contradicted by historical fact. The mythology might have common elements across the nation, but it also highlights the considerable variation within that nation, with all the “us and them” posturing that comes with it. Don’t confuse a Geordie with a West Country man, or a Yorkshireman with a Lancastrian! Regional identities remain strong, with Englishness in the background. Nationality is all bullshit really. The author underlines that with a claim the English don’t see themselves as British despite over 300 years of union with Scotland. Bullshit, in my view.
What is more powerful today is cultural identity. This book makes a strong case for the Tudor age of reformation and counter reformation to be the real starting point of Englishness, and a demonstration that nationality is nothing to do with blood or location of birth, and all to do with adherence to a set of common values, a social contract. Cultural social cohesion endured to the mid 20th century, mainly by being imposed by the homogenous ruling class on the more diverse lower classes, but cannot continue in the Information Age where individuals can access other cultural identities from around the world that are more suited to their personality.
It is no surprise that nationalism is on the rise once more, pushed by those who are nostalgic for simplistic homogeneity in society, but the answer is not the exclusion and hate that is inherent in nationalism’s “us and them”, rather a clearer understanding of social contract is necessary to bring people together voluntarily rather than through force. Social contract is far more able to unite disparate individuals than nationalism, finding common ground for compromise without losing the richness of individuality.
As you might guess, I loathe nationalism. Despite being a socialist I am also an individualist. To me a modern society is made of different people in agreement and mutual respect, rather than made of clones forced to fit a mould created by self-appointed national “leaders”.
Does the author reach a conclusion on the starting question? No, actually. The best he can do is balance an English tendency to adaptability with an English dislike for change. That and eccentricity. In the end that shows the futility of the question. That describes everyone and no one. The English are far too diverse to be described as an entity. Like any nation.
The whole idea of trying to nail down a national identity is utterly futile. Some behaviours may well be characteristic, but no one is defined by just some characteristics.
So, was this a good read? Yes, it was entertaining. Is it worth reading again? No.
May 29, 2019
Accessible easy to read treatise on what it is to be English.
A book I read within a day. A good summary of key events in English history and how these events have shaped how the English viewed themselves. At one point I thought it was going to become a congratulatory celebration of Englishness without examining the darker sides of our history. The author does however, explore the issues of colonisation and imperialism and reflects upon their impact on English culture. I felt that the author managed to get the balance right between celebrating the positives of English culture whilst acknowledging the less desirable aspects. An engaging and enjoyable read.
A book I read within a day. A good summary of key events in English history and how these events have shaped how the English viewed themselves. At one point I thought it was going to become a congratulatory celebration of Englishness without examining the darker sides of our history. The author does however, explore the issues of colonisation and imperialism and reflects upon their impact on English culture. I felt that the author managed to get the balance right between celebrating the positives of English culture whilst acknowledging the less desirable aspects. An engaging and enjoyable read.
December 18, 2018
A non-fiction book this, a mixture of fascinating history and sociology, both of which I’m passionate about. The author goes on a journey to various locations in England charting the English people’s progress through the historic ages in an attempt to analyse the English identity. As well as being fascinating stuff, the author has injected just the right amount of humour and anecdotes to prevent the content being boring. Reading it made me proud to be English!
December 1, 2021
This book is 315 pages long and split into 20 chapters, representing the 20 places visited by the author to explore the concept of "Englishness". I bought this from a bookshop at an English Heritage property which seemed very appropriate.
Nationalism is often very confused and the variety of contradictions seem to have been highlighted in recent years with the Brexit vote encouraging the issue to polarise. With Covid focusing borders to be closed, putting pressure on international trade, and the ongoing pressure from Scottish nationalists, this is an appropriate time for this discussion.
The premise behind the book is that the author visits a variety of places which look at Englishness from different angles. This gives an element of travel writing along with the inevitable social analysis and linguistic view.
I'd never heard of the author but have enjoyed his style tremendously. He's very much like Bill Bryson early in his writing career but Derek Taylor's English roots seem to give him more perspective. He is chatty and involves the reader in how he experiences the places he visits. He questions and prods the commonly recognised historical stories on behalf of the reader, so we can feel that we are exploring these places alongside him.
The historical information is easy to absorb which makes the book very accessible. I like to think I'm reasonably knowledgeable but there is plenty here that I didn't know. Reading all about these historical events - most of which are well known even though we are now looking from a new angle - a reader cannot fail to be reminded that history repeats itself continually throughout the years. Societal, political and religious conflict all continue with the people suffering every time. We worship some people and pillory others with time often showing that these judgements are wrong.
I don't think there are huge surprises to the conclusions that the author makes, for example that Shakespeare was a huge influence on the language of the English, but it is fascinating to sit back and think about the circumstances that made this all possible. It's also interesting to look at this history with modern eyes and think about how we reflect compared to attitudes at the time.
The focus that the author retains throughout the book is admirable. He resets himself at the start of each chapter, telling the reader what he is going to consider in the following pages. Each chapter is also rounded off neatly then finished with a few paragraphs that lead to the next section. The frequent change of location kept he hooked all the way through. There is a great variety of places chosen and I found each one interesting in different ways - many I have already visited and the others I now want to.
Nationalism is often very confused and the variety of contradictions seem to have been highlighted in recent years with the Brexit vote encouraging the issue to polarise. With Covid focusing borders to be closed, putting pressure on international trade, and the ongoing pressure from Scottish nationalists, this is an appropriate time for this discussion.
The premise behind the book is that the author visits a variety of places which look at Englishness from different angles. This gives an element of travel writing along with the inevitable social analysis and linguistic view.
I'd never heard of the author but have enjoyed his style tremendously. He's very much like Bill Bryson early in his writing career but Derek Taylor's English roots seem to give him more perspective. He is chatty and involves the reader in how he experiences the places he visits. He questions and prods the commonly recognised historical stories on behalf of the reader, so we can feel that we are exploring these places alongside him.
The historical information is easy to absorb which makes the book very accessible. I like to think I'm reasonably knowledgeable but there is plenty here that I didn't know. Reading all about these historical events - most of which are well known even though we are now looking from a new angle - a reader cannot fail to be reminded that history repeats itself continually throughout the years. Societal, political and religious conflict all continue with the people suffering every time. We worship some people and pillory others with time often showing that these judgements are wrong.
I don't think there are huge surprises to the conclusions that the author makes, for example that Shakespeare was a huge influence on the language of the English, but it is fascinating to sit back and think about the circumstances that made this all possible. It's also interesting to look at this history with modern eyes and think about how we reflect compared to attitudes at the time.
The focus that the author retains throughout the book is admirable. He resets himself at the start of each chapter, telling the reader what he is going to consider in the following pages. Each chapter is also rounded off neatly then finished with a few paragraphs that lead to the next section. The frequent change of location kept he hooked all the way through. There is a great variety of places chosen and I found each one interesting in different ways - many I have already visited and the others I now want to.
Read
November 3, 2019More Bryson-esque than originally expected - making it a fun read
An enjoyable canter though some places in England as well as our history. A future edition could explore the concepts of English toleration and flexibility more, to see if it makes it through the current phase of our history.
An enjoyable canter though some places in England as well as our history. A future edition could explore the concepts of English toleration and flexibility more, to see if it makes it through the current phase of our history.
July 2, 2019
Well written and fascinating. However, I find the concluding chapter overplays the supposed resilience and stability of the English. We are in very dangerous times where established institutions and norms of behaviour are in real jeopardy.
September 17, 2019
Couldn't get past the first chapter, and had no interest to continue.
September 20, 2022
A fascinating look into the history and culture of the English. Definitely helped me understand this very quirky country.
March 26, 2023
A great little read
Very revealing history of the British people and way of life put out in a very simple and understandable way. A lovely read.
Very revealing history of the British people and way of life put out in a very simple and understandable way. A lovely read.
July 11, 2023
Since interesting and out of the way places to visit while the trekking the story of these islands and how the English developed their sensibilities. Read and better still visit
May 6, 2024
[10 Jan 2021] An interesting and informative read.
October 12, 2021
A history and a tour
Highly informative and engagingly written. Tackles a question both unanswerable ( honest, that's not a spoiler) and well worth asking. The ending leaves you at Brexit, so it will probably leave you wanting more.
Highly informative and engagingly written. Tackles a question both unanswerable ( honest, that's not a spoiler) and well worth asking. The ending leaves you at Brexit, so it will probably leave you wanting more.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews