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Englishness

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the characteristics of the English identity. What is Englishness and is it possible to define it in anything more than the loosest and baggiest terms?

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the characteristics of the English identity. β€œAn Englishman’s word is his bond”, β€œAn Englishman’s home is his castle”. β€œEngland is a nation of shopkeepers”, but also β€œthe most exclusive club there is”. To Cecil Rhodes to be an Englishman was to have β€œwon first prize in the lottery of life” but to Jonathan Swift the English were β€œthe most pernicious race of odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth”. Organised, effete, cruel, brave, inventive, determined …Who are the English? And when, how and in what heat was their English identity forged? Britain has now the highest percentage of inter-racial marriages in the world. Does that say as much about the English as their previously branded characteristics of gravity, sense of order, domesticity and propriety? What was Englishness and is it possible now to define it in anything more than the loosest and baggiest terms?With Paul Langford, Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford; Peter Mandler, Professor of Modern History at London Guildhall University; Professor Lola Young Director of the National Museum and Archives of Black History and Culture.

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45 minutes

Last on

Thu 20 Apr 2000 21:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 20 Apr 2000 09:02
  • Thu 20 Apr 2000 21:30

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