Oakland has produced an accessible and comprehensive introduction to British culture and society maintaining clarity and focus while looking at issues in sufficient depth and detail. The book is well supported with a dedicated website for students and tutors offering links for future research and self-assessment.
Chris Bilboe, University of Liverpool, UK
Oakland's well-organised and lucid approach makes British Civilization a superb textbook for all students of contemporary Britain.
Atle Libaek Wold, University of Oslo, Norway
The neatly updated eighth edition of John Oakland's British Civilization is probably the best and most comprehensive institution-based introduction to contemporary Britain, and is simply indispensable in the classroom.
Gyoergy Borus, University of Debrecen, Hungary
This most readable book focusing on various aspects of contemporary British society is absolutely indispensable for international students, both in Britain and abroad, who seek a deeper understanding of British history, life and institutions.
Rudolf Chalupsky, University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic
Comprehensive and brilliantly structured, British Civilization has helped my successive undergraduate classes get a clear and thorough introduction to the different aspects of British society. This revised and updated eighth edition is undeniably highly valuable course material for foreign students of British Studies.
Salim Kerboua, Universite Mohamed Khider de Biskra, Algeria
Praise for the previous edition:
This is an excellent core course book, suitable for both native and non-native speakers of English alike. It is well written and provides up-to-date coverage of a wide range of topics.
Howard Jopp, University of Hull, UK
The balance between the width and depth of Civilization analysis makes this an excellent textbook for students at the introductory level of the field. John Oakland covers a wide range of topics without becoming bogged down in details and while preserving the complexities of British Civilization issues and debates.
Ane Vikaune, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Oakland's British Civilization not only provides an historical overview, but also an in-depth insight into the issues and debates encountered when studying Britain, its institutions and people. For those who are fascinated by Britain, this is a book not to be missed; for those who aren't, this book will certainly change your mind.
Li-Jiuan Lilie Tsay, Ming-Chuan University, Taiwan
A highly-readable exploration of British culture, media and the arts. The updated edition examines areas other books on the subject fail to address and the exercises at the end of each chapter are current and thought-provoking. This would be a valuable addition to the bookshelf for all undergraduates of the field.
Russell Clark, Keele University, UK
