Mark Easton's Britain Etc. looks at the UK through its relationship to 26 subjects - one for each letter of the alphabet. From Alcohol, Beat Bobbies, Cheese and Dogs through Immigration, Justice, Knives and Murder to the Queen, Umbrellas, Vegetables and the Zzzz of a well-deserved rest, the book's meticulously researched but accessible essays map the back-story of contemporary Britain. With each lettered chapter, the reader is invited to look at the United Kingdom in a new way: standing back to see our small islands in a global or historical context, and then diving down to scrutinise vital details that may be overlooked. Taken together, the essays reveal a Britain that cannot be seen through the prism of daily news or current affairs. A park, a wedding, a beggar and a carrot all take on new significance once you have read Britain Etc. As the UK welcomes millions of visitors to its shores for the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, this is a book that offers insight into the psyche of Britain; a nation's obsessions, prejudices, values and idiosyncrasies. What sort of place is it, what are the natives like, and how did we get to where we are?
Britain Etc.
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'Entertaining and eye-popping facts leap out of Mark Easton's elegant hand-book on who we are. Social research blends with social history in this charming and erudite portrait of modern Britain' --Polly Toynbee
'A terrific read' --Observer
'An eminently readable exposition of some of the things we take for granted every day. Mark Easton tells us something of who we are by looking at the ways we got here' --Mark Radcliffe
'Easton doesn't go in for easy clichés... Setting each topic in its historical context, from Britain's obsession with bobbies on the beat to the resurgence of cheesemaking, Easton looks beyond all the pomp and circumstance to offer a highly readable insight into a complex nation.'
--Financial Times
'It's rare that a book can both sit in the loo waiting for a happy random rummage yet be destined for a permanent place on one's reference shelves: this is one' --The Observer
'What sort of place is Britain? Whatever readers do conclude, it seems likely that all would agree this book will have given them some new insight into Britain' --Significance Magazine
'A terrific read' --Observer
'An eminently readable exposition of some of the things we take for granted every day. Mark Easton tells us something of who we are by looking at the ways we got here' --Mark Radcliffe
'Easton doesn't go in for easy clichés... Setting each topic in its historical context, from Britain's obsession with bobbies on the beat to the resurgence of cheesemaking, Easton looks beyond all the pomp and circumstance to offer a highly readable insight into a complex nation.'
--Financial Times
'It's rare that a book can both sit in the loo waiting for a happy random rummage yet be destined for a permanent place on one's reference shelves: this is one' --The Observer
'What sort of place is Britain? Whatever readers do conclude, it seems likely that all would agree this book will have given them some new insight into Britain' --Significance Magazine
About the Author
Mark Easton is a Glasgow-born journalist who has written and presented numerous current affairs programmes and writes the award-winning BBC blog 'Mark Easton's UK'. From 1998-2004 he was the Home and Social Affairs Editor of Channel 4 and in 2004 he became the Home Editor of BBC News.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By JMAnderson
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a quiet bombshell of a book. From its pastel cover and serviceable title we are misdirected into expecting another Brysoneque tour of the nation replete with sketches of village cricket greens and extravagant hats at Ascot. (Sigh). Yet behind Mark Easton's calm, non-judgmental and no-nonsense A to Z tour of current Britain (A is for Alcohol; B is for Bobbie) is a more factual and edgier narrative. His reporter's instinct for a story runs to the counter-intuitive leading to a series of fascinating revelations: alcohol's connection to violence is due to societal conditioning; families are happier now than any time in the last 50 years; there has been no knife crime epidemic; and, my favourite, the mighty dachshund is the most vicious dog of all, the pit bull way down the charts. Easton charts eloquently how public hysteria (often fuelled by the media) forces politicians to act, whether the hysteria is justified or not. To not act immediately, to counsel caution, is to risk your political hide. As a BBC reporter covering the false media circus of alleged crises in knife crime or vicious dogs or the Soham murders Easton has no doubt been forced to go with the news flow. So here is a strong sense of putting the record straight. His best chapter is Y is for Youth, an eloquent, almost incandescent look at how the country has failed its youth. E is for Edgier?
Easton sets out his wares like a street vendor and leaves his reader to judge and value these 26 items on display. Is it a weakness of the book that there is no arc to the story, no attempt to summarise, suggest, or sermonise? At first I thought, yes, but on further reflection I find that it is better as is. After delving expertly into the worlds of media hysteria, spin, false confessions, defensive PR manoeuvres, etc. the contract Easton is making with his reader is more direct and honest. R is for Refreshing.
Easton sets out his wares like a street vendor and leaves his reader to judge and value these 26 items on display. Is it a weakness of the book that there is no arc to the story, no attempt to summarise, suggest, or sermonise? At first I thought, yes, but on further reflection I find that it is better as is. After delving expertly into the worlds of media hysteria, spin, false confessions, defensive PR manoeuvres, etc. the contract Easton is making with his reader is more direct and honest. R is for Refreshing.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Pale Dog
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this after reading a review in the Sunday papers. It has lived up to the promise. Each chapter addresses a different issue in a direct, simple and informative way. Just dip in as and when you like and be both entertained and informed.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Martin H
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a thoroughly engaging book and a great read. Whilst I don't necessarily agree with every detail (it is written by a journalist after all!) it is none the worse for that. My hope is that Mark Easton will put pen to paper more as his style is very accessible. Buy it, you will not be disappointed.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
this scepter'd isle
A wonderful piece of insightful literature, delving into Britain's eccentricities, obsessions and foibles. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Exchelsea
5.0 out of 5 stars
Illumination etc.
I can't improve on, disagree with or add much to JMAnderson's excellent review (12 May 2012), so I'll just make a couple of extra points. Read more
Published 12 months ago by russ_w
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unusual and informative
An informative and entertaining book that approaches familiar subjects in an unusual but intelligent manner. Read more
Published 12 months ago by boddington
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