Britain explained. Understanding British identity

Martin Upham, the author of Britain Explained, spent many years teaching the Britain Today course to Americans ‘studying abroad’ in London, where he was the director of AHA International (now GEO). This book is based on that experience.

He shows how the United Kingdom is and always has been a complex country of varied and at times clashing identities, expressed in every aspect of its history and contemporary life. The result is a fascinating expedition that in one highly-readable volume will give students and other visitors from abroad a rich and rounded understanding of Britain today.

Starting with an explanation of the constitutional and parliamentary system, the book moves on to a description of the four nations that make up the UK, looking at what unites them and what divides them. London gets a chapter on its own. A chapter dedicated to Brexit explores the fault lines exposed by the EU referendum. Further chapters follow on foreign affairs, the economy, social identities, religion, education, culture, sport, the media, the health service, the law, science, and the environment. Each chapter is packed with useful facts and informative well-balanced commentary.

The book includes more than 130 illustrations of British historical and contemporary personalities and places and a detailed index.

Contents:

1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2. Political parties and the parliamentary system
3. Monarchy, government and the constitution
4. England and the Union
5. Ireland and the Union
6. Wales and the Union
7. Scotland and the Union
8. London
9. Brexit!
10. Facing the world
11. An open economy
12. Social identities
13. A nation of unbelievers
14. Not just Eton and Oxford
15. Culture for all
16. Playing the game
17. The news media
18. From the cradle to the grave
19. The law of the land
20. Science superpower
21. A green and pleasant land?