In Search of England (Hardcover)

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Amazon.co.uk Review
From the popular television historian who has previously gone in search of the Trojan War and in the footsteps of Alexander, comes a new study of a pressing question, now that "Britain" seems to be an increasingly meaningless concept: What does it mean to English? Wood traces an answer through many of the most cherished national myths, like Robin Hood, King Arthur, Alfred the Great and the mysteries of Glastonbury. As you would expect from Wood, he ranges about over the whole of England, rather than sticking to the obvious places. He visits Tinsley Wood near Sheffield, claimed as the site of Athelstan's great victory over the Celts in 937 AD. He finds a farmhouse in Devon that has been continuously occupied for a thousand years and a village in Leicestershire where the local peasantry confronted the King's soldiers in 1265 to tell them that they were violating the rights of "the common people of England." The book also boasts a wonderful, judicious collection of reproductions of old posters and paintings showing how our forefathers, particularly the Victorians, imaginatively recreated England's past in their own image. Timely, readable and fascinating stuff, this is popular history at its very best. --Christopher Hart

Product Description
Where does the idea of England and Englishness come from? Are there particular moments in the Dark and Middle Ages when we can see it begin to develop? How is being English different from being British? In 1113, French priests on a fund-raising tour were told by a crowd in front of St Peter's Church, Bodmin, that Arthur would one day return and "Britain would rise again". When they expressed scepticism, a near-riot broke out. The Arthur myth was then already established. But how had it gained credence? And is there any truth at its core? In his new book, Michael Wood examines this and other fascinating questions concerning Robin Hood, Alfred the Great, King Athelstan and the idea of the Norman Yoke. Peeling back to layers of literary and oral material that have accumulated over the years to separate fact from fiction, Wood demonstrates the fascinating build-up of a series of rich ideas - part history, part myth - that have contributed to the sense of what it means to be English. In the third part of "In Search of England", Michael Wood writes about particular places that illuminate aspects of early England and whose stories resonate through history: Tinsley Wood, near Sheffield, which has been claimed as the site of Athelstan's great victory against the Celts in 937; a farmhouse in Devon which has seen continuity of occupation since Domesday and possibly long before; and the village of Peatling Magna in Leicestershire, scene of an extraordinary confrontation with the King in 1265. These are the places and the events that offer a rooted, complementary version of the history that is discussed earlier in the book. "In Search of England" is published at a significant moment. As we move into the new millennium and as the various countries that make up the United Kingdom begin to assert their own identities, it offers a potent and revealing account of the origins of Englishness and the "Matter of Britain".

3 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Tracing the roots and development of the English nation, 25 Mar 2000 By  bigbigtrain@spawton.swinternet.co.uk (Bournemouth,England) - See all my reviews In search of England seemed to be largely ignored by the newspaper review columns when it was published.Perhaps the absence of the usual accompanying tv series with a Michael Wood book gave it a lower profile.Whatever the reason,the lack of attention is disappointing as this book makes a significant contribution to the debate on English identity.Wood,of course,takes a historical perspective and through a series of essays traces the roots and development of the English nation and identity.Some of the chapters address the theme directly,others are more oblique,but it all hangs together very well and is written in clear and well-structured prose. I have only two minor complaints.Firstly,whilst most of Wood's arguments are convincing,occasionally he steps over the line and makes a speculative leap too far.Secondly,and this is just my personal taste,Wood uses too many of those irritating exclamation marks!Perhaps they are used to ensure the book retains a popular rather than academic feel.If so,Wood sells himself short as he is a good historian with a real understanding of his subject. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant history of England and much more besides..., 23 Dec 1999 By  fionanutbrown@yahoo.com (Reading, Berkshire) - See all my reviews All you would expect from Michael Wood, this is an informative, fascinating and above all accessible book. I found it practically unputdownable - no dry dusty history here, this is how it should be told, a story of the past and an idea of how that past still influences us today. Told by an author who's enthusiasm for his subject spills off the page, his book left me with a thirst to find out more. Thankfully Wood provides an excellent bibliography (as good a read as the chapters themselves...) to start us out on our own Search. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   5.0 out of 5 stars One of Michael Wood's best, 25 May 2009 By  W. E. Rimington - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Written as only Michael Wood can. Charming, quaint and erudite from cover to cover. Wood transports you back through the centuries not necessarily to great events in British history but to the events, personalities, legends, institutions and scenes that constitute the very stuff of our Englishness. A wonderful read on a warm summers day under the apple tree. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 3 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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