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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'A visionary book' Philip Pullman
'Essential and magnificent' George Monbiot
'Deft and wonderfully poetic' Grace Blakeley
The right have hijacked Englishness. Can it be reclaimed?
Today, the only people who dare speak of Englishness are cheerleaders for Brexit, exceptionalism and imperial nostalgia. But there is another England,, hiding in plain sight, which is dramatically more inclusive, green and forward looking. Here, a leading progressive politician delves deep into England's history to sketch out another vision of English identity - one that we can all embrace to build a greener, fairer future.
'Not just an inspiring, nuanced and deeply literate book, but that rarest of things - a necessary one.' Jonathan Coe, author of Bourneville
'Cleverly deploys Elizabeth Gaskell, John Clare and Charles Dickens to demonstrate that a culture can be diverse and coherent, innovative and rooted; many stories told in one beautiful language.' Telegraph
'Reading this warm, persuasive book is to be confronted with the idea and reality of a decent, saner England. One perhaps possible in a fought-for future.' iNews
'A clarion call to define England and Englishness as our common ground, and a grounding for a transformation of politics and society.' Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level
'Tells a new story about England and Englishness, and sets out the possibility for a progressive politics of land, place and nation. This is vital reading.' Robert Macfarlane, author of Underland
'A progressive vision of the country's literary and cultural history from the trailblazing MP . . . Offers much needed crumbs of hope for the future.' Guardian