This edited collection focuses on the negotiation of national, geographic and cultural identities during the Second World War among the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. Adopting a four nations approach, it contributes to our understanding of how pluralistic identities within the multinational state of Britain informed the functioning of Britishness during the conflict. In particular, it explores the ways in which Wales, Scotland and England related to the overarching concept of Britishness and analyses the relationships between Britain and the island of Ireland. This volume addresses wartime Britain as both a site of cultural contestation and of shared experience, exploring what «fighting for Britain» meant for those who served in the British armed forces as well as for those who did not fight in active combatant roles.

Contents: Wendy Ugolini/Juliette Pattinson: Negotiating identities in multinational Britain during the Second World War - Lucy Noakes: «Deep England»: Britain, the countryside and the English in the Second World War - Gary Sheffield: Englishness in the British army of the Second World War - Martin Johnes: Welshness, Welsh soldiers and the Second World War - Bernard Kelly: «Excellent Irishmen»: Irish volunteers and identities during the Second World War - Ian S. Wood: Northern Ireland's War - Trevor Griffiths: Scottish cinema-goers at war: The popular reception of British and Scottish films during the Second World War - Gavin Bowd: «Fortify the Cheviots!»: The Nazis and the Scottish Nationalists - Jessica Thurlow: «Total War on Spiritual Issues»: English feminists, Christian national identity and gender equality in wartime Britain - Wendy Webster: Transnational communities of allies - Iain E. Johnston: Imperial settler-regions in the Second World War: The case of British air training in southern Africa - Stuart Allan: «Some idea of our country»: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in early wartime documentary film - Linsey Robb: «His Own Weapons to His Own Battlefront»: The civilian working man in British culture 1939-1945.