Ailsa Henderson and Richard Wyn Jones: Englishness: The Political Force Transforming Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021.

• Robert Craig

Towards the end of “Little Gidding,” which rounds off Four Quartets, we read that “History is now and England.” T. S. Eliot’s statement, which in turn rounds off the Introduction to this impressive new study, echoes throughout much of what follows: both the idea and the political reality of Englishness is a dog that has been barking in the background of UK politics for decades – and whose bark will only become louder. It’s a straightforward thesis, but one that is thoroughly grounded in the findings of the unprecedented Future of England Survey (FoES), first fielded in 2011 and repeated eight times since. That alone makes Englishness essential reading for scholars from all fields who are interested in England and Englishness: the many and varied survey questions do not make for any seismic shocks or surprises, but they do paint an eclectic picture which challenges stereotypes and adds nuance to received wisdoms.