It’s finally here! The Jubilee is this weekend and I, for one, COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED. I was already giddy with anticipation but when I saw the bunting on Lambeth Bridge this morning I almost had a funny turn. In light of the celebration of 60 years of a glorious monarch, I present to you the best of our British books:
Being British: What’s Wrong With It?, by Peter Whittle
Being British is a humorous and anecdote-packed celebration of the Britain of today, covering some of our greatest national institutions, habits and characters. This is a landmark book as Britain struggles to cement its place in the twenty-first-century.
Whatever Next, by Earl Ferrers
There could hardly be a figure more quintessentially British. When members of the House of Lords voted in 1999 which 92 hereditary peers to keep, Earl Ferrers topped the list, and from this elegant collection of engaging vignettes, it is easy to see why.
Wayne Rooney: Boots of Gold, by John Sweeney
Irreverent, hilarious and surprising, Boots of Gold is a tarts-and-all biography of England's most famous sportsman and the iniquities of some of those who have sought their pound of flesh.
Under Every Leaf, by William Beaver
This book fills the gap in our knowledge of Victorian intelligence, telling the story of the Intelligence Division of the War Office from 1856 to 1909 and the hidden role that the Intelligence Division played in acquiring Britain's vast empire without a major European or Asian war.
The Bank, by Dan Conaghan
A superbly written and well-researched tale of Mervyn King's strong, controlling and often inflexible personality, of Machiavellianism at the heart of Britain's central bank and the extraordinary power that this most secretive and remarkably autonomous institution wields.
When One Door Closes, by Peter Sissons
The surprisingly funny, dramatic and often poignant story of Britain's most distinguished newsreader. Now retired from broadcasting, he can finally lift the lid on his thoughts about the state of the British media, global affairs and what he really thinks of the BBC.
Knapton, by Gillian Shephard
With a foreword by Peter Hennessy, this book charts the social history of Britain from the late nineteenth century to the present day through the prism of one Norfolk village: Knapton.