Englishness: Twentieth-Century Popular Culture and the Forming of English Identity
Simon Featherstone
Abstract
This book examines the conflicts, dilemmas and contradictions that marked Englishness as the nation changed from an imperial power to a postcolonial state. The chapters deal with travel writing, popular song, music hall and variety theatre, dances, elocution lessons, cricket and football, and national festivals, as well as literature and film. ‘High’ and ‘popular’ cultures are brought together in dialogue, and the diversity as well as the problematic nature of English identity is emphasised. The case studies are linked by their interests in different kinds of performances of being English, and ... More
Keywords: Englishness, English identity, travel writing, popular culture, music hall, theatre, cricket, football, literature, film
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2008 | Print ISBN-13: 9780748623655 |
| Published to Edinburgh Scholarship Online: March 2012 | DOI:10.3366/edinburgh/9780748623655.001.0001 |
