True North: In Praise of England's Better Half

by Martin Wainwright

Abysmal weather, slag heaps, funny accents, the bleak uplands of a landscape carved out of millstone grit and townscape of abandoned mills and shipyards, the detritus of an industrial revolution past its sell-by date. That, anyway, is the myth, the foundation for the dismissive gibe that nothing north of Watford is worth a bag of chips. This and other myths are swiftly dispatched in True North— an incisive and wittily observant assessment of a socially and culturally flourishing region in the UK that can boast an unrivalled setting of wild coastline, lakes, and green dales, as well as inhabitants who are indomitably inventive, proud of their past, and keen to forge a brilliant new future.

Genres: British Literature, Nonfiction, Travel

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Underwhelmed. Though there were quite a few moments in this where I was told interesting facts about people who came from The North, stuff that happened in The North, and things that people from The South assume about the better/other end of the country, I was overall left only with the certainty that the author had done plenty of research.

I am a Northerner myself, and hence have experienced some of the assumptions from that there posh London folk, so can understand some of the reasons for the book to be written. However, I never felt there was much real insight into the divide. Having lived in The South and The Midlands myself too, I can attest that there are differences in attitudes, but this book didn't really get to the nub of it. In the end it came over a little bit like a tourist information film, a lot like a list of accolades and praises (fair enough, but the same sort of thing could be said about a different list of stuff associated with The South, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, or people called John) and I even got the sense that the author lost belief in what he was putting together at points.

I also felt it was a bit dense and humourless at times. Like a Yorkshireman, perhaps.

[Bill Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointing read about my favourite part of the world, the North of England. Wainwright is suitably effusive about the part of England that feels ignored by the capital and those southern folk, but the unremitting positive spirit about everything to do with the north, crammed into 290 pages with lots of photographs just becomes rather wearing. There is no light and shade, no construction of how the North became what it is or why, no coherent narrative, even with the 8 chapters, none really having a clear thesis. Indeed, the whole could easily be written by Welcome to Yorkshire as a promotional book, except that would just concentrate on Yorkshire. Even the photographs seem to have been randomly dropped in throughout the book, often reaching a relevant image many pages after the text. I did find one seriously incorrect fact, but don't know if there are others about subjects I know less about. It could have been a lot more interesting, but an easy and occasionally interesting read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this to be a pleasant read. I did not expect it to feel genuinely rousing and moving. Perhaps it is where we are now, more than fifteen years after the book was published, that makes the genial then Northern editor of The Guardian Martin Wainwright come across as an inspirational, tub thumper about things that matter. It was written perhaps too soon after the financial crash for austerity to have done its dirtiest and for the shittiest of scum to have risen to the surface.

There was a lot missing (and not just the skittered over at the end sport and music) And a few mistakes - I reckon his own public school education at Shrewsbury is responsible for his failure to appreciate the relevance and importance of Billy Caspar's school in 'Kes' being a secondary modern, not a comprehensive. I fear too that very much will have changed - pubs and business success stories being no more. But so many nuggets of interest - the NUM (unsuccessfully) objecting to Manny Shinwell's plans for Wentworth Woodhouse and why, Arthur Scargill's other side, the Japanese chickensexers of Cowling, all the complaints about the Bronte parsonage now being insufficiently gloomy.

I was delighted and intrigued by Wainwright's references to his time working in Bath. These made an excellent counterbalance to stereotypes. His discussion of immigration is wonderful and his rant against miserabilism justified.

[Malcolm Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A present from a friend that I didn't think I'd like, but interesting if slightly biased look at the North of England. Learned a lot of interesting stuff too such as the origin of the 'Elephant and castle' pub names driving my wife mad with my 'did you know'? every few minutes. I'm a Northumbrian with family in West Yorkshire, so a lot of relevance. not a bad read, actually.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a slow read.

[Steve Chilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wainwright calls on a vast and knowledge of the people, customs, habits and achievements. It does jump about a bit though. Maybe grouping stuff in themes better might have made it more readable. There were some great factoids that surprised me though.

[Iain Hamill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure the Jeremiah 25:9 epigraph before the epilogue is quite accurate in the theological context but I did enjoy this homage to the North. Written from a position further left to my usual diet I think when someone is passionate enough a general subject the political spin becomes less important. More emphasis on the history of the area would have been good but I don't think Wainwright ever set up with an all encompassing survey in mind.

[Edward Ferrari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't know what I expected really, got it on sale and recently got round to reading it. Bit thin on the ground in places, though got some useful things learnt. Wanted a bibliography. Photos a bit random and uninspiring. Wouldn't bother with it if you're looking for something comprehensive.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loving history and memoir about the wonders of the North of England

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Full of interesting, if random, thoughts about the North of England and its history

[Rebecca Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely bias in favour of the north but full of interesting and random facts

[Robbie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Local interest mainly, and I generally enjoyed it and learned a bunch, but the relentless positivity gets a bit wearing.

[Anne Kiely]

I enjoyed reading this but it does jump around a bit. I will be keeping it on my Kindle to refer to land follow up on some of the stories and people.