The Real Crown Jewels of England: 100 Places That Make Us Great

by Clive Aslet

'Glorious' Daily Mail

'Clive Aslet has been an extraordinarily informed and influential standard-bearer for the cause of the countryside and Britain's heritage for many years' Max Hastings

On 15 April 2019, Paris's beloved Notre Dame was ablaze. It shocked the world - a revered landmark, a national symbol, a manifestation of French identity was here today, gone tomorrow. Life is fragile. So are the buildings, monuments and landscapes that move us. The question 'what would you save if your house was on fire?' is a familiar parlour game. But what would you save if England was on fire? What are the places that we most cherish, that express qualities that are especially English?

In this delightful celebration of the real crown jewels of England, Clive Aslet takes us on a journey of 100 places that make our country great. From ancient oaks and Devon lanes to war memorials and the BBC, the white cliffs of Dover to views of Durham from the train, Aslet lovingly captures the magic of the places that underpin our national identity.

The Real Crown Jewels of England is both an invitation to rejoice in our common heritage, and to discover the world of astonishing beauty that lies just beyond your doorstep.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

Hardcover

Published September 17, 2020

Reviews

[Sandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book I should probably not have chosen, so part of the disappointment falls to me.

Some friends are planning a trip to the UK and I was doing a bit of reconnaissance for them thinking this book would be helpful.

But after the introduction and the first 30 places I encountered two dilemmas:

1. Obviously it is very Anglophile centric (a given).
As I read on it gave me a huge longing to read places to visit in other island nations. I wanted some color and variation. What are the best places in Seychelles, Cuba, Samoa, Nauru, Micronesia, etc? Yes, I acknowledge that was not the author, it might have been my wanting too much…a series?

2. This is a more credible literary bump in my reception to this book, it is hard to describe places without using descriptors over and over. All cathedrals started to sound alike, all landscapes were superlative. I’m inclined to see this as the peril of any compilation of 100 anything, where do you find the thousands of specific adjectives?

In the end my friends are still interested in the book and will use it. I think they would be more generous in their reception.

[Ruth Castle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book in London last year and it’s been pleasant to read about many unique and historic places throughout England. I will say this is definitely written for an audience that already knows the history, culture, and context of each of these places, because there are some definite gaps in explanation/information—things the reader is supposed to already know. But that’s fair, as I bought it in England and it’s written for the people who live there. Either way, I’m glad to have read it.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after reading Neil Oliver's 'The Story of the British Isles in 100 places'. This book takes the same '100 places' approach as Neil Oliver's book but is less serious and generally quite jaunty. It covers England only and is more of a personal list whereas Oliver's is a history lesson.

[Mark Bowden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. This book's heart is in the right place, more or less, but Aslet doesn't write well enough to make it engaging. It is a bit vague and woolly. It's not reliable either; his piece on Stonehenge is the most inaccurate I have read in a long time and some of his other historical descriptions, such as Battle Abbey and Kenilworth Castle, are almost equally unimpressive.