A classic collection of essays providing an excellent introduction to the many different narrations of the 'nation'. Contributors include Gillian Beer, Homi Bhabha, Rachel Bowlby, Simon During, Sneja Gunew, and Doris Sommer.

Chapter 1 Introduction, Homi K. Bhabha; Chapter 2 What is a nation?, Ernest Renan, Martin Thom; Chapter 3 Tribes within nations, Martin Thom; Chapter 4 The national longing for form, Timothy Brennar; Chapter 5 Irresistible romance, Doris Sommer; Chapter 6 Denaturalizing cultural nationalisms, Sneja Gunew; Chapter 7 Postal politics and the institution of the nation, Geoffrey Bennington; Chapter 8 Literature - Nationalism's other? The case for revision, Simon During; Chapter 9 Sir Joshua Reynolds and the Englishness of English art, John Barrell; Chapter 10 Destiny made manifest, David Simpson; Chapter 11 Breakfast in America - Uncle Tom's cultural histories, Rachel Bowlby; Chapter 12 Telescopic philanthropy, Bruce Robbins; Chapter 13 European pedigrees/African contagions, James Snead; Chapter 14 English reading, Francis Mulhern; Chapter 15 The island and the aeroplane, Gillian Beer; Chapter 16 DissemiNation, Homi K. Bhabha;