麻豆社

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the characteristics of the English identity. 鈥淎n Englishman鈥檚 word is his bond鈥�, 鈥淎n Englishman鈥檚 home is his castle鈥�. 鈥淓ngland is a nation of shopkeepers鈥�, but also 鈥渢he most exclusive club there is鈥�. To Cecil Rhodes to be an Englishman was to have 鈥渨on first prize in the lottery of life鈥� but to Jonathan Swift the English were 鈥渢he most pernicious race of odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth鈥�. Organised, effete, cruel, brave, inventive, determined 鈥�Who are the English? And when, how and in what heat was their English identity forged? Britain has now the highest percentage of inter-racial marriages in the world. Does that say as much about the English as their previously branded characteristics of gravity, sense of order, domesticity and propriety? What was Englishness and is it possible now to define it in anything more than the loosest and baggiest terms?With Paul Langford, Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford; Peter Mandler, Professor of Modern History at London Guildhall University; Professor Lola Young Director of the National Museum and Archives of Black History and Culture.