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How Britain Ends
- English Nationalism and the Rebirth of Four Nations
- Narrated by: Robin Laing
- Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
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How Britain Ends
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Summary
A thoughtful, articulate and important book about the rise of English nationalism and the impending breakup of the United Kingdom from one of the finest BBC journalists of the last 20 years.
How Britain Ends is a book about history, but also about the strange, complicated identity of Britishness. In the past, it was possible to live with delightful confusion: one could be English, or British, Scottish or Irish and a citizen/subject of the United Kingdom (or Great Britain). For years that state has been what Gavin Esler calls a 'secret federation', but without the explicit federal arrangements that allow Germany or the USA to survive.
Now the archaic state, which doesn't have a written constitution, is coming under terrible strain. The English revolt against Europe is also a revolt against the awkward squads of the Scottish and Irish, and most English conservatives would be happy to get rid of Northern Ireland and Scotland as the price of getting Brexit done. If no productive trade deal with the EU can be agreed, the pressures to declare Scottish independence and to push for a border poll that would unite Ireland will be irresistible.
Can England and Wales find a way of dealing with the state's new place in the world? What constitutional, federal arrangements might prevent the disintegration of the British state, which has survived in its present form for 400 years?
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- Roger D.
- 09-10-21
recommended - with one caveat
A very good summary of the current situation and potentially very enlightening to anyone who hasn't been paying attention. I have one objection. Gavin has to suggest a federal solution but makes no mention of the fact that for such a solution to be implemented the people of England would have to vote first for a government to suggest it and then yes in a referendum to confirm it. This will "never" happen. Here in October 2021 motions on PR have just been voted down at the Labour conference. Not only do Labour look at least a decade from power they don't even support the key policies needed. I suggest Gavin moves back to Edinburgh so he can vote in the up coming Indy ref!
(For the record I write this from my home in Edinburgh. I was born British in the great city of Bristol but have been in Scotland nearly 30 years. I never really considered myself English but strangely friends and family South of the border have become English, or more explicitly English, in my absence. I now consider myself Scottish first then a disenfranchised European. Britishness is long gone. )
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-07-21
An interesting read....
As other journalists frequently do, Mr. Esler is more than happy to “cherry pick” and his personal biases are very thinly disguised often with a notable lack of supporting evidence. You would be wise to keep your favourite “go to” fact-checker, close at hand… Having said that, this is an extremely well written, most enjoyable, very informative, and often quite humours read and for these reasons, I can highly recommend this book. Narrated by Robin Laing who should seriously stick to just the one accent ...preferably his own...
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- Malachy mccloskey
- 25-06-21
Highly recommend.
I great book. Well researched and some very personal accounts by author. A must listen. Very well narrated. Fully enjoyed and worth listening to a few times to get all information. Thanks to Gavin for this insightful book.
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- Alastair
- 21-04-21
Interesting and thought provoking with pithy points
Excellent summary of how the UK is likely to break up due to the incompetence of Cameron, May and Johnson. It offers a federal option which the writer thinks would be the best solution but which is now unlikely. Full of pithy quotes, interesting historical insights and personal views. Well worth reading.
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- Kindle Customer
- 23-09-21
Thought Provoking
Thought provoking and sad to think in equal measures. Thoroughly recommended.
Fingers crossed the it isn’t the end. From a son born from a Scottish mother and English father.
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- Dagmar
- 02-04-21
Passionate but sane analysis
It was a little confusing at first to listen to a book by Gavin Esler read not in his familiar voice. Got quickly used to the other Scottish narrator though, however I wish he'd dropped the accents on reading out quotes (always somewhat irritating, unless someone is really good at accents, which is rare).
The book is a sane and detailed analysis of how we ended up where we are, and why Scottish independence feels so very likely now. I especially enjoyed the chapters on the various different voting systems and the British constitution and its dangers - I learnt a lot! I forgive him for losing his rag a little over Chris Grayling - I mean, who wouldn't ...
I would recommend this together with Fintan O'Toole's "Three Years in Hell: The Brexit Chronicles".
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- christopher ward
- 15-05-23
Thought provoking
Though I didn't agree with everything he writes and at times ( as a English nationalist) I found it uncomfortable listening but it made me rethink my views on my country , Brexit and the whole political system in the UK.
I would advise anyone who reads this book to do so with a open mind.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Ron
- 07-07-22
well argued and we'll read.
Well researched as you would expect from a good journalist Gavin lays out his arguments logically and engagingly, and it is well narrated by Robin Laing.
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- Kitty
- 26-05-22
Illuminating
A very illuminating and interesting read. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was very well presented with lots of interesting facts and outlooks
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- rokosovsky
- 27-04-21
Superb analysis
A superb analysis but probably too late to avert the inevitable break up of the UK. The brexit vote has cast competing nationalisms into stark relief and this book charts the path through history to this inevitable outcome with wit and a lightness of touch which kept me coming back to it. While it thoroughly eviscerates the current UK governmental model it also provides well thought out solutions and ideas of how to go forward. Well worth a credit.
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