'Englishness' is by no means the unchanging quality of those living in the territory that has come to be England, but a concept that has been made and remade throughout history, expressing itself through existing symbols and ideas. Since its first publication in 1987 this collection has been regarded as a major work on English national identity as it evolved during the period 1880-1920 and has had a significant impact on writing and research. It is a classic text for students of modern British history and courses in politics, sociology and literature.This updated edition of Englishness contains a new introduction by Robert Colls and Philip Dodd, which sets the work in the context of research done since its original publication, and an afterword by Will Self which relates it to current debates on Britain as a multinational state.This important collection contains ideas that are still pertinent today, making it essential reading for students and scholars alike.

IntroductionEnglishness and the National Culture Philip Dodd (University of the Arts, London, UK)Englishness and the Political Culture Robert Colls (De Montfort University, UK)The Discovery of Rural England Alun Howkins (University of Sussex, UK)The Invention of English Brian Doyle (1943-1997), author of English and Englishness (1989)A Literature for England Peter Brooker (University of Nottingham, UK) and Peter Widdowson (formerly University of Gloucestershire, UK)The Identity of English Music: The Reception of Elgar 1898-1935 Jeremy Crump (De Montfort University, UK)The Englishwoman Alice Mackay (independent scholar, UK) and Pat Thane (King's College, London, UK)The Marginal Britons: The Irish D George Boyce (University of Swansea, UK)Englishness and the Liberal Inheritance After 1886 Dennis Smith (University of Loughborough, UK)The Conservative Party and Patriotism Hugh Cunningham (University of Kent, UK)Socialism, the State and Some Oppositional Englishness Stephen Yeo (formerly University of Oxford, UK)AfterwordIndex