- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Portobello Books Ltd (1 April 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1846270413
- ISBN-13: 978-1846270413
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 330,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Real England: The Battle Against The Bland
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Product Description
Sunday Herald
'A fine piece of old-fashioned journalism that is both original and thought-provoking... An angry and brilliant book.'
Review
"'Magnificent: one of the most important books I have read in a long time. Revealing, stirring and brilliantly written, it should be read by everyone in England.' Zac Goldsmith, editor of The Ecologist"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
You'd think that a book entitled 'Real England' might have much of an audience north of Newcastle. But while the tales in this book, which detail the disappearance of local shops, the death of the farming community and the end of the pub, have a particular resonance for the English - who do retailing, farming and drinking better than just about anyone - the Scots, Welsh and Irish too can share the concerns raised in it. Because the sort of decline witnessed in this book is happening everywhere in Britain.
The book is relentlessly - and inevitably - depressing. That shouldn't be taken to mean that it isn't readable (on the contrary: I polished it off in a weekend). But the narrative throughout almost inescapably leads to the feeling that those small, almost unnoticed things that together made England special have passed forever. And yet... the author details pockets of resistance to the disappearing core of English life. Will this book inspire others to act, or simply a fine valedictory epitaph to England? Time will tell. But I urge you to read it either way.
I don't think other reviewers have mentioned the fantastic cover design - really clever and eye catching and a big factor in me picking up the book in the first place.
The book is relentlessly - and inevitably - depressing. That shouldn't be taken to mean that it isn't readable (on the contrary: I polished it off in a weekend). But the narrative throughout almost inescapably leads to the feeling that those small, almost unnoticed things that together made England special have passed forever. And yet... the author details pockets of resistance to the disappearing core of English life. Will this book inspire others to act, or simply a fine valedictory epitaph to England? Time will tell. But I urge you to read it either way.
I don't think other reviewers have mentioned the fantastic cover design - really clever and eye catching and a big factor in me picking up the book in the first place.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've just read this and loved it. Kingsnorth writes passionately and, where needed, beautifully. Many of us will recognise bits of the picture he paints, but what he does is to bring it (the human impact of the destruction of English localities) alive in a single compelling narrative. You need to read this; and having done so you need to be angry. If you are like me you may also feel strangely drawn to wanting to buy Kingsnorth a pint.
A couple of observations. Part of the solution, he says, is to give local communities power over the matters which affect them, and he finds encouragement in the Government's "community empowerment" initiative. I hope he's right, but it must be doubtful whether the Government will let anything get in the way of national economic performance. The department responsible for community empowerment is also responsible for some of the main agents/engines of economic performance - planning, housing, and "regional development".
Kingsnorth's argument, rightly in my opinion, emphasises the importance of relationship to place in human identity. But relationship to community is also important, and doesn't get a mention. At the same time as place is being destroyed, communities are also being disrupted by the rapid demographic change resulting from increasing mobility and mass immigration. Part of the solution to this may be to rebuild community through sense of place, but this wouldn't sit easily with Kingsnorth's desire for continuity with the past.
A couple of observations. Part of the solution, he says, is to give local communities power over the matters which affect them, and he finds encouragement in the Government's "community empowerment" initiative. I hope he's right, but it must be doubtful whether the Government will let anything get in the way of national economic performance. The department responsible for community empowerment is also responsible for some of the main agents/engines of economic performance - planning, housing, and "regional development".
Kingsnorth's argument, rightly in my opinion, emphasises the importance of relationship to place in human identity. But relationship to community is also important, and doesn't get a mention. At the same time as place is being destroyed, communities are also being disrupted by the rapid demographic change resulting from increasing mobility and mass immigration. Part of the solution to this may be to rebuild community through sense of place, but this wouldn't sit easily with Kingsnorth's desire for continuity with the past.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed Mr Kingsnorth's book a lot. I certainly was an eye-opener in many respects. The book discuss the fact that England (and no doubt many other countries - but this book focuses on England) is being effectively colonised by corporate power. The book illustrates the point by several examples; the takeover of pubs by chain pub companies, the destruction of the countryside way of life by agri-industry, the privatisation of public spaces to make them safe for high street stores and consumerism etc etc.
The idea expressed by the book is powerful and it does make one feel fairly angry that the government is unwilling or unable to stop the corporate takeover of the country. Given that more wealth and material goods do not make people happier (a proven fact) what are the benefits of this? Well the shareholders of the companies involved no doubt benefit but the cost is ruined ways of life, town centres with no local flavour which have all had the "high street makeover" and generally impoverished culture, not to mention damaged family lives due to increased work hours as a result of the perceived need to keep up with the consumers next door.
It is a pity the English do not stand up to this. Some might think this is just a nostalgic view of things but the author's point is that he is not anti-change but anti-inappropriate change. The only downside of the book is I would have liked to hear more about what can be done (only 1 chapter out of about 10 is devoted to this). After all the problem is not that people love big out-of-town supermarkets and the effects they have on once unique town centres, but it is more that they are so convenient for time-pressed people - the big question is how to persuade people to change their behaviour to dent corporate power and give the little guy a chance. Let us all hope it can be done before the whole country turns into one big corporate blandscape!
The idea expressed by the book is powerful and it does make one feel fairly angry that the government is unwilling or unable to stop the corporate takeover of the country. Given that more wealth and material goods do not make people happier (a proven fact) what are the benefits of this? Well the shareholders of the companies involved no doubt benefit but the cost is ruined ways of life, town centres with no local flavour which have all had the "high street makeover" and generally impoverished culture, not to mention damaged family lives due to increased work hours as a result of the perceived need to keep up with the consumers next door.
It is a pity the English do not stand up to this. Some might think this is just a nostalgic view of things but the author's point is that he is not anti-change but anti-inappropriate change. The only downside of the book is I would have liked to hear more about what can be done (only 1 chapter out of about 10 is devoted to this). After all the problem is not that people love big out-of-town supermarkets and the effects they have on once unique town centres, but it is more that they are so convenient for time-pressed people - the big question is how to persuade people to change their behaviour to dent corporate power and give the little guy a chance. Let us all hope it can be done before the whole country turns into one big corporate blandscape!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Reactionary Rubbish
I don't think so. This excellent book says what many on the left say but if they don't say it, they label it reactionary or worse.
Published 3 days ago by SociologistRob
A Cry for England
[...]
There is a nice little review of this book here, objective and balanced. I enjoyed it immensely, far from being a 'little Englander', Kingsnorth is objective and... Read more
There is a nice little review of this book here, objective and balanced. I enjoyed it immensely, far from being a 'little Englander', Kingsnorth is objective and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by E Twatt
An alternative critique of modern consumerism
I am giving this book a high rating not because I agree with all of its points, but because I value the fact that they are being made. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. Ivan Coldharbour
Real England; Thebattle Against the Bland
Even for those of us who are not English this book is a worthwhile read to awaken our rejection of the bland lukewarm so called culture of big business which is increasingly... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2010 by Malcolm Kennedy
real england: buy it, borrow it, read it, do something
My politically-inactive husband read this book earlier this year and it inspired him to start up a protest against plans for a giant sainsbury's supermarket in Penrith,... Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2009 by felted friend
Superb, stimulating stuff
This is a book that really fizzes. Paul Kingsnorth has a gift for lively, immediate prose that brings his discussion of the "Tesco-isation" of society alive on the page. Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2009 by Slow Lorris
A little one sided but worth the read
I bought this book on the back of Amazon recommending it with Bad Science by Ben Goldacre....and I thought Bad Science was fantastic and so based on this and the reviews from... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2009 by SRG
Reactionary rubbish
Kingsnorth starts his diatribe by claiming he isnt a reactionary backward looking little englander , then goes on to prove thats exactly what he is.
Published on 18 Aug 2009 by Michael J. Davidson
brief overview
I ordered this book after having read one chapter of someone else's copy, and got hooked - as that is all I've read of it, can't say a great deal, as I bought it for a friend as a... Read more
Published on 30 July 2009 by J. M. Johnson
Everyone should read this
This book does for England what Naomi Klein's "No Logo" does for globalisation: it draws together all the things you already know about English life in 2009, and forces you to... Read more
Published on 16 July 2009 by Daisy Roots
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