England Hb [Hardcover]

Maureen Duffy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2001

This work is a narrative history of England covering 3000 years, which explores the political, religious, environmental and physical influences that have arrived at the myth that is England. Threads which are explored include the myth of the English woman and the identification of class in dialect. Duffy concludes that the history of England's absorbtion of different cultures should lead England to support the European ideal and turn its back on Americanization.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A prolific poet and playwright, Maureen Duffy published her first novel, That's How It Was, in 1962. She is the author of Wounds, Capital and Londoners: An Elegy (the Londoners trilogy) and has written biographies of Purcell and Aphra Behn.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fourth Estate; First Edition edition (March 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841151661
• ISBN-13: 978-1841151663
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,461,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars This is a good book hiding in a mediocre book, July 31, 2003

By 

Megami (Darwin, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: England Hb (Hardcover)

This is a good book hiding in a mediocre book. An exploration of what the English think of themselves and why, including the historical aspects that form these ideas. But this book ranges far and wide, yet never reallay makes any firm points, with wishy-washy swipes at how what the English think of as their nherent Englishness isn't really, maybe, kind of. (Yes, it's that kind of book) The last chapter especially is bland - a swipe at New Labor and Modern Britain that really misses its chance to say anything important. There are some interesting facts and snippets, but nothing feels particularly revealing or explanatory.

A disappointing read - i have been living in the UK for 18 months and i hoped to learn something new.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discover the facts behind the myth, June 21, 2003

By 

saliero (NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: England Hb (Hardcover)

This book is a fabulius read. Strip away the veneer from 'pomp and circumstance' or 'muddling through' stereotypes of England and discover where they are derived from.

Not at all dry or academic in tone, so very useful for the generalist reader interested in England.

I recommend it to anyone planning a trip there. England is a wonderful country to visit, but it is so much richer when the scales are taken from our eyes.