- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press (9 Oct 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593053435
- ISBN-13: 978-0593053430
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.8 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 159,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
What does it mean to be English? What does it mean to be British? Is the cross of St. George a proud symbol of a great tradition, or the badge of a neo-Nazi? In a world where British citizens can lay bombs to kill their countrymen, where religious fundamentalism is on the increase and where the BNP are somehow part of the democratic process, what does patriotism actually mean? Our identity can change depending on what company we are in. For example, someone could describe themselves British to one person, Scottish to another and, say, a Londoner to another, and be right every time. But problems arise when someone tries to tell you what you are, based on your skin tone, religion, accent, surname, or whatever. This book is Billy Bragg's urgent, eloquent and passionate response to the events of 7 July 2005, when four bombs tore through a busy morning in London, killing 52 innocent people and injuring many more. A firm believer in toleration and diversity, he felt himself hemmed in by fascists on one side and religious fanatics on the other. The suicide bombers were all British-born and well integrated into our multicultural society. Yet, they felt no compunction in murdering and maiming their fellow citizens. Inclusivity is important, but without a sense of belonging to accompany it, what chance social cohesion...But where does a sense of belonging come from? Can it be conferred by a legal document? Is it a matter of blood and soil? Can it be taught? Is it nature or nurture? "The Progressive Patriot" is a book we all need to read. It pulls no punches in its insights and its radical vision offers a positive hope for a country teetering on the brink of catastrophe.
From the Back Cover
What does it mean to be English? What does it mean to be British? Is the cross of St George a proud symbol of a great tradition, or the badge of a neo-Nazi? In a world where British citizens can lay bombs to kill their countrymen, where religious fundamentalism is on the increase and where the BNP are somehow part of the democratic process, what does patriotism actually mean?
This book is Billy Bragg’s urgent, eloquent and passionate response to these issues and the events of 7 July 2005, when four bombs tore through a busy morning in London, killing fifty-two innocent people and injuring many more. A firm believer in toleration and diversity, Billy felt himself hemmed in by fascists on one side and religious fanatics on the other. The suicide bombers were all British-born and well integrated into our multicultural society. Yet they felt no compunction in murdering and maiming their fellow citizens. Inclusivity is important, but without a sense of belonging to accompany it, what chance social cohesion?
But where does a sense of belonging come from? Can it be conferred by a legal document? Is it a matter of blood and soil? Can it be taught? Is it nature or nurture? The Progressive Patriot is a book we all need to read. It pulls no punches in delivering its insights, and its radical vision offers positive hope to a country teetering on the brink of catastrophe.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Billy Bragg is not so much a national treasure as a national hero in my eyes. This semi-autobiographical work is flawed but is deeply charming (like the man himself). It's certainly no sex, drugs, rock 'n'roll and football affair (which is a shame as I'd have liked to hear Billy's take on that) but a history lesson and a polemic from the radical tradition. The self-styled Big-nosed Bard of Barking has swapped lyric writing for prose writing and as he admits in the introduction it's a totally different discipline. The Progressive Patriot is part of his ongoing attempt to reclaim English patriotism from the neo-nazis. Woody Guthrie might have said 'this guitar kils fascists' but Billy is hoping this book will kill fascists ideals on patriotism. I must confess I found the the history of Barking a tad tedious (despite knowing the area well as a long-time West Ham fan)and the Charles 1 material about the declaration of rights felt like a school history lesson (and urgently needed some of Billy's extremely dry humour), but his idolisation of Simon and Garfunkel is immensely entertaining and the book comes alive when he's writing about the rise of Rock Against Racism.
This is an absolutely essential read for any Billy Bragg fan and has moments, that like his song 'Between The Wars', are a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
Paul Wellings, author of 'I'm a journalist...get me out of here', 'Spend It Like Beckham' and 'Sex,Lines and Videotape'(Progressive Press)
This is an absolutely essential read for any Billy Bragg fan and has moments, that like his song 'Between The Wars', are a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
Paul Wellings, author of 'I'm a journalist...get me out of here', 'Spend It Like Beckham' and 'Sex,Lines and Videotape'(Progressive Press)
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I only know Billy Bragg from a few of his songs (the terrific "A New England", of course, plus his lesser-known third album "Talking To The Taxman About Poetry"), and a vague idea about his political activism. So I had a few preconceptions about what this book (lent to me by a friend) would be about - the usual musician's story, supplemented by a side order of polemic. He'd thrown me off the scent by the end of the first chapter, which is a careful - even scholarly - account of the history of Barking (his birthplace). He follows that with a discussion about the Anglo-Saxons, the story of his ancestors' involvement in the London Docks strikes of 1889 and 1911 and the history of his family. It's not until the fourth chapter that he starts telling - in a very roundabout fashion - how he got interested in music.
So this isn't your standard musician's book, although he gives a very good account of the relationships between British and American folk music in the 60's (an early influence was Paul Simon, and BB makes the fascinating suggestion that "The Boxer" was inspired by a Essex fighter named Billy Walker) and the way he got swept along with the arrival of punk in 1976. In addition, he writes very well (he memorably describes the difference between writing a song and a book, comparing taking a photograph to "painting in oils on a twelve-by-twenty foot canvas"). He's clearly put a lot of work into this book (though I think the first name of the historian he calls Charles Babington MacCaulay was really Thomas), but the overall point he's trying to make remains obscure.
First, as others have pointed out, there seems to be a confusion about nationalism, patriotism and xenophobia, which get used interchangably. More crucially, he doesn't appear to draw a distinction between Britain, Great Britain, the United Kingdom and England, which is both a standard source of bewilderment for foreigners and a touchy subject for many inhabitants of these islands, although it should be handled carefully in a book which is supposed to be about national identity.
His proposals for how to go about setting up a Declaration Of Rights seem a little naive - indeed, his argument for why such a thing is needed (which includes the contention that it would be a great way to celebrate the anniversary of the 1707 Acts Of Union) is unconvincing. But, leaving his call to action aside, this is still a good book - well written, wide-ranging and (for the most part) stimulating.
So this isn't your standard musician's book, although he gives a very good account of the relationships between British and American folk music in the 60's (an early influence was Paul Simon, and BB makes the fascinating suggestion that "The Boxer" was inspired by a Essex fighter named Billy Walker) and the way he got swept along with the arrival of punk in 1976. In addition, he writes very well (he memorably describes the difference between writing a song and a book, comparing taking a photograph to "painting in oils on a twelve-by-twenty foot canvas"). He's clearly put a lot of work into this book (though I think the first name of the historian he calls Charles Babington MacCaulay was really Thomas), but the overall point he's trying to make remains obscure.
First, as others have pointed out, there seems to be a confusion about nationalism, patriotism and xenophobia, which get used interchangably. More crucially, he doesn't appear to draw a distinction between Britain, Great Britain, the United Kingdom and England, which is both a standard source of bewilderment for foreigners and a touchy subject for many inhabitants of these islands, although it should be handled carefully in a book which is supposed to be about national identity.
His proposals for how to go about setting up a Declaration Of Rights seem a little naive - indeed, his argument for why such a thing is needed (which includes the contention that it would be a great way to celebrate the anniversary of the 1707 Acts Of Union) is unconvincing. But, leaving his call to action aside, this is still a good book - well written, wide-ranging and (for the most part) stimulating.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
`The Progressive Patriot' is Billy Bragg's first book but I suspect it will not be his last. Following on from his previous album `England, Half English' he is continuing his theme of what is national identity in a multicultural society, fuelled by the far right BNP being elected onto the council of his native Barking and the realisation that the London suicide bombers were British Nationals, Billy is looking for an inclusive patriotism that welcomes all under the National Banners.
The contradictions of what is traditionally considered to be British Patriotism from the Whig histories and the fact that the mother of all democracies did not have universal suffrage until the twentieth century do not make this an easy subject and Billy attempts to bridge the gap of his own ancestry and experience and how although that it could alienate him from the English genius instead it shows how it can give us an inclusive citizenship. Billy leads us through his family history and fits this into the history of both Barking and the Nation. Coupled with this Billy shares with us his formative years and shows us how, somewhat bizarrely, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan informed his love of English folk music and The Clash informed not only his politics but also his internationalism.
The book is very timely and while the government considers such ludicrous suggestions as to introduce citizen tests and school children pledging allegiance to the Queen, Billy Bragg is taking the lead with realistic ideas that are not impositions but a realistic appreciation and inclusiveness.
Reading this book made me think of my own ideas on patriotism and my ancestry with a similar stand point to Billy Bragg with our both being lovers of George Orwell's `The Lion and the Unicorn' and having both being politicised by music. I brought to mind my Grandmother rushing home in the thirties to avoid Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts marching through Leeds. She got the heel of her shoe stuck in the tram lines and had to break it off to get away. History has never felt so relevant.
The contradictions of what is traditionally considered to be British Patriotism from the Whig histories and the fact that the mother of all democracies did not have universal suffrage until the twentieth century do not make this an easy subject and Billy attempts to bridge the gap of his own ancestry and experience and how although that it could alienate him from the English genius instead it shows how it can give us an inclusive citizenship. Billy leads us through his family history and fits this into the history of both Barking and the Nation. Coupled with this Billy shares with us his formative years and shows us how, somewhat bizarrely, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan informed his love of English folk music and The Clash informed not only his politics but also his internationalism.
The book is very timely and while the government considers such ludicrous suggestions as to introduce citizen tests and school children pledging allegiance to the Queen, Billy Bragg is taking the lead with realistic ideas that are not impositions but a realistic appreciation and inclusiveness.
Reading this book made me think of my own ideas on patriotism and my ancestry with a similar stand point to Billy Bragg with our both being lovers of George Orwell's `The Lion and the Unicorn' and having both being politicised by music. I brought to mind my Grandmother rushing home in the thirties to avoid Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts marching through Leeds. She got the heel of her shoe stuck in the tram lines and had to break it off to get away. History has never felt so relevant.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It fails to make a convincing argument
I didn't have high hopes for this book - having decided to read it after it was referred to a couple of times in other things. Read more
Published 20 months ago by G. Stone
Biography, history and politics with a lot of heart
Fuelled by Billy Bragg's dismay and anger at the British National Party's success in the local elections in his beloved Barking, The Progressive Patriot looks at the area's more... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by Greg Farefield-Rose
A new England?
In what is part autobiography, part political polemic, Billy Bragg takes his own (fascinating) family history as a starting point for a study of his own sense of identity and... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2007 by G. L. Haggett
So disappointing
I'm a big BB fan and really wanted to like this but it's such a let down. Please stick to writing songs Billy. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2007 by Salmon
Pages of waffle and missed opportunities
The publisher's blurb talks about the "meaning of patriotism" but there's no actual definition of what it is. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2007 by D. Stanmore
Bragg - national treasure
Forget Lord Melvyn Bragg, we need Lord Billy Bragg in the upper house - though we are unlikely to see Billy accepting any post in the Lord's due to his own campaign to reform the... Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2006 by Mark Hillary
Refreshing.
How refreshing to read a book offering honest and frank opinions about such an emmotive subject. Bragg offers us a personal history of his life and geneology, weaved in with a... Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2006 by Mr B
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