Description: A captivating and original approach to understanding England's history, as experienced through twenty-five of the most vital, magisterial poems in English literature.
This is the history of England told in a new way: glimpsed through twenty-five remarkable poems written down between the eighth century and today, which connect us directly with the nation's past and the experiences, emotions, and imaginations of those who lived it. These poems open windows onto wildly different worlds--from the public to the intimate, from the witty to the savage, from the playful to the wistful. They take us onto battlefields, inside royal courts, down coal mines, and below stairs in great houses. Their creators--witnesses to events from the Great Fire of London to the Miners' Strike--range from the famous to the forgotten, yet each invites us into an immersive encounter with their own time. A History of England in Twenty-Five Poems is a portal to the past; a constant companion, filled with vivid voices and surprising stories alongside familiar landmarks, and language that speaks in new ways on each reading. Catherine Clarke's knowledge and passion take us inside the words and the moments they capture, with thoughtful insights, humor, and new perspectives on how the nation has dreamed itself into existence.Brief description: Catherine Clarke is a professor at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, and director of the Victoria County History of England. She was previously professor of English literature at the University of Southampton, where she remains a visiting professor. This is her first book.
Review Quotes: "One to read for anybody who's ever climbed a lamp-post to put up a flag; or indeed climbed a lamp-post to pull one down again."-- "Times Radio (London)"