Book description
What is Britishness? What allowed one small island group to rule a
quarter of the world and, even today, to have the most spoken language
after Chinese? What makes Americans admire the guts, traditions and
loyalties of these island Anglo-Saxon and Celtic peoples? What is it
that makes cynical Europeans and once-dominated Asians look to the
British for opinion, literature, social norms and justice? The answers
lie within the creation of British institutions, both Commoner and
Aristocracy, during the past 2000 years.
Following the thought-provoking style of the original This
Sceptred Isle, this new volume brings to life the character and
frustrations so carefully studied by allies and enemies for twenty-one
centuries - from Romans to al-Qaeda. Here Lee makes all the
connections with institutions and changing industrial and social
characteristics that even show us that Britishness is not exclusively British.
At a time when a major section of the British, the English, appear
to be less and less sure who they are and who they are meant to be,
This Sceptred Isle confirms who it is we really are.
Christopher Lee is a writer, historian and broadcaster, best-known
for writing the radio documentary series 'This Sceptred Isle' for the
BBC. Lee was the first Quatercentenary Fellow in Contemporary History
and Gomes Lecturer in Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He has written nearly
30 books and more than 70 radio plays.
