unisonlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
What will England be in 10-15 years time? Bland, corporate and homogenised unless we do something about it, according to Real England by Paul Kingsnorth. This book, more of a rallying cry than a death wail, focuses on the increasingly dull cultural landscape of England. We travel to different places sampling the tales of woe from various individuals and groups. Farmers, brewers, lock keepers, inn keepers, market stall holders, and ordinary people who just care. Care about their culture, care about their diversity and way of life. Although written by a fully fledged member of the Left, this book is neither political nor partisan. It is written above politics taking in things that both left and right care about and want to protect, for the same reasons but with different methods.
The omnipresent shadowy enemy are multinational corporations and an overwhelming government, who seem entwined in a symbiotic relationship of mutual cannibalism. There is more here though than anger and apathy, there are solutions, and they are simple. They must be simple, radical politics is only required for radical problems and the maintenance of our native landscape and vibrant culture is a simple proposition. We have been lazy and have not noticed the slow creep of the clones, but now we know. Most people are annoyed when their local pub becomes a Starbucks, or when a small bookshop closes to be replaced by a Subway, but few have done anything about it. Now, slowly but surely, people are. This is an important book, and a blueprint for direct action without having to commit to an ideology outside of caring for one’s own personal environment.
The book focuses on England primarily because the author is English and felt that others would write better about their native land than he. Kingsnorth clarifies this by reserving special condemnation for the lack of an English parliament and the benefits that would bring. Far from being couched in petty nationalism, Kingsnorth explains that the English are at a distinct disadvantage from their Scottish or Welsh counterparts during parliamentary votes. Many people have a natural instinct to reject English pride through our historical attachment to Empires built on slavery and colonialism. Kingsnorth argues that it is possible to be a proud Englishman without becoming a jingoistic racist. Once we do that, we will realise the special things contained within these borders and be aware of just how fragile they are.
It’s a wonderful book choc full of human interest stories and personal accounts of battles with big business and government bureaucracies.
Anyone who has even a passing care of diversity of culture, individuality and England itself should read this book. There are some accusations of an unwillingness to change and nimbyism that will come but this isn’t about wanting to remain in the past, it’s about not wanting to change things for the worse, or change them just because if we do they will make more money. We know what out past is, the future is much darker at the moment, but it must contain an England that the people have asked for, not that “growth” has supplied them with. It can only do this if we take action.
The omnipresent shadowy enemy are multinational corporations and an overwhelming government, who seem entwined in a symbiotic relationship of mutual cannibalism. There is more here though than anger and apathy, there are solutions, and they are simple. They must be simple, radical politics is only required for radical problems and the maintenance of our native landscape and vibrant culture is a simple proposition. We have been lazy and have not noticed the slow creep of the clones, but now we know. Most people are annoyed when their local pub becomes a Starbucks, or when a small bookshop closes to be replaced by a Subway, but few have done anything about it. Now, slowly but surely, people are. This is an important book, and a blueprint for direct action without having to commit to an ideology outside of caring for one’s own personal environment.
The book focuses on England primarily because the author is English and felt that others would write better about their native land than he. Kingsnorth clarifies this by reserving special condemnation for the lack of an English parliament and the benefits that would bring. Far from being couched in petty nationalism, Kingsnorth explains that the English are at a distinct disadvantage from their Scottish or Welsh counterparts during parliamentary votes. Many people have a natural instinct to reject English pride through our historical attachment to Empires built on slavery and colonialism. Kingsnorth argues that it is possible to be a proud Englishman without becoming a jingoistic racist. Once we do that, we will realise the special things contained within these borders and be aware of just how fragile they are.
It’s a wonderful book choc full of human interest stories and personal accounts of battles with big business and government bureaucracies.
Anyone who has even a passing care of diversity of culture, individuality and England itself should read this book. There are some accusations of an unwillingness to change and nimbyism that will come but this isn’t about wanting to remain in the past, it’s about not wanting to change things for the worse, or change them just because if we do they will make more money. We know what out past is, the future is much darker at the moment, but it must contain an England that the people have asked for, not that “growth” has supplied them with. It can only do this if we take action.
megami's review
2.0
While there is much in the general premise of this book that I agree with - that the British highstreet is becoming a homogenised and bland place that ultimately threatens consumer choice for example - the general tone of it was ultimately off-putting. The insinuation that cities/urban centres are not 'English' reveals a snobbery or provincialism that overlooks English history and reality. The world Kingsnorth uses as examples of 'Real England' is often entertaining, but there is almost a bigotry against anything that dares to be progressive, which is at odds with some of the greatest achievements of England over the past century.
In summary - the author doesn't like towns, and seems to think we should all live in small, preferably rural, communities. And if you don't like that idea you are obviously someone who is stupid enough to have been sucked into the insidious globalisation that is ruining this sceptred isle.
In summary - the author doesn't like towns, and seems to think we should all live in small, preferably rural, communities. And if you don't like that idea you are obviously someone who is stupid enough to have been sucked into the insidious globalisation that is ruining this sceptred isle.
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