Bretons and Britons: The Fight for Identity

by Barry Cunliffe

What is it about Brittany that makes it such a favourite destination for the British?

To answer this question, Bretons and Britons explores the long history of the Bretons, from the time of the first farmers around 5400 BC to the present, and the very close relationship they have had with their British neighbours throughout this time. More than simply a history of a people, Bretons and Britons is also the author's homage to a country and a people he has come to admire over decades of engagement.

Underlying the story throughout is the tale of the Bretons' fierce struggle to maintain their distinctive identity. As a peninsula people living on a westerly excrescence of Europe they were surrounded on three sides by the sea, which gave them some protection from outside interference, but their landward border was constantly threatened--not only by succeeding waves of Romans, Franks, and Vikings, but also by the growing power of the French state.

It was the sea that gave the Bretons strength and helped them in their struggle for independence. They shared in the culture of Atlantic-facing Europe, and from the eighteenth century, when a fascination for the Celts was beginning to sweep Europe, they were able to present themselves as the direct successors of the ancient Celts along with the Cornish, Welsh, Scots, and Irish. This gave them a new strength and a new pride. It is this spirit that is still very much alive today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Prehistory, France, Ancient History, Archaeology

488 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2021

About the author

Sir Barrington Windsor Cunliffe taught archaeology in the Universities of Bristol and Southampton and was Professor of European Archaeology at the University of Oxford from 1972 to 2008, thereafter becoming Emeritus Professor. He has excavated widely in Britain (Fishbourne, Bath, Danebury, Hengistbury Head, Brading) and in the Channel Islands, Brittany, and Spain, and has been President of the Council for British Archaeology and of the Society of Antiquaries, Governor of the Museum of London, and a Trustee of the British Museum. He is currently a Commissioner of English Heritage.

Reviews

[Brendan Mael · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bretons et Britons" par Barry Cunliffe est une lecture incontournable pour tous les Bretons. Ce livre offre des perspectives profondes sur notre héritage celtique (Briton), en explorant la philosophie et la culture de nos ancêtres qui ont voyagé du Pays de Galles, conquis l'Armorique et fondé la Bretagne. Ils ont bâti l'un des royaumes les plus riches et les plus puissants d'Europe.


Cunliffe plonge profondément dans les traits distinctifs de l'ethnicité bretonne, mettant en avant nos racines celtiques nordiques et la résilience remarquable de notre peuple à préserver notre culture, nos traditions et notre philosophie de vie. Il explique pourquoi les Bretons ne seront jamais français, en affirmant que la Bretagne est une nation celtique avec une identité unique, luttant constamment pour son indépendance.


À travers des recherches minutieuses et une narration captivante, ce livre fournit des perspectives inestimables sur notre riche histoire et la lutte continue pour notre identité. C'est une lecture essentielle pour quiconque cherche à comprendre l'essence véritable de la Bretagne et de son peuple.

[Fed's most watched anon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good analysis and narrative of the Breton people through the ages, but far less emphasis on the Britons than expected for them to be in the title. Britons were the foil to the main character of Bretons, so to speak, and were just one of the lenses used by Barry to create unique identity for the Bretons, along with the Romans, French, and other groups. Otherwise a good book with apt descriptions of the people, culture, and geography and its impacts on their life through the ages

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more about the Bretons than Britons. As I hadn't known much about Breton, it was interesting in that respect. There was a lot of history to cover and Cunliffe did a good job of covering the important aspects of that history.

[Sarah Goodfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough and in depth, interesting but a little academic for me. I'm used to fiction

[P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cunliffe at his best.

[Elden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for personal research, while detailed regarding every significant moment of Brittany's history up to the First World War the book is not daring enough to explore the complex political realities and ethnic tensions of the Post war/Second World War era, still the illustrations are fantastic and really bring you to the historical moments explored, researched throughfully by a veteran like Mr Cunliffe.

Being honest to you all was looking forward for an analisis of the first Breton National Party(1911-1914),the Bleun-Brug(with the controversial abbot Pierrot at its head) and if course the split of the Parti Autonomise Breton into the dreadful Second Breton National Party(1931-1935) and the Federalist League of Brittany, all of this paradigma analised would have Specially come in handy for anyone to truly understand the "Fight for Breton Identity".

Not mentioning the Sao Breiz, the formation of the first autonomist/nationalist parties on the post war era, from far light to left, a focus on the still kicking UDB(Union Democratique Breton) would be specially appreciated and their rol on the Red Caps protests of 2013, the formation of the Counsel Regional Breton was also the change to make a satirical comparison with the days of the institutions of the old Duchy dead on 1789,the taking away of the Loire Atlantique(which included a city key to Breton identity like Nantes) was also not mentioned on any moment and really if the attempt was to not be "political" then the book is a bit of a betrayal on itself.

So any political mentions are restricted to the Union Régionalise Breton(URB) and the leading figures of the movement such as L'Estourbeillon, Charles Le Goffic and Anatole Le Braz as well as the split formation of the Ligue des Bleus de Bretagne, beyond that there is no real exploration of the many other components of the Emsav be it political or cultural movements.

While Joel Cornette remains the top expert on Brittany out there(Check out his book published on 2022,it is in French but deserves your time) Certainly Mister Cunliffe put for the very first time on a contemporary English publishing the focus on Brittany, their culture, some of their history but refused to go a little more forward and explore the country on its most recent moments till our very day, one should and can expect more of a book that came out on 2021.