[A] scholarly study which sheds much light on the marginalisation of a peculiarly reticent culture. * Paul Lay, BBC History Magazine, Book of the Year 2004 *
[A] tonic re-assessment that assigns as much significance to the cheap and post modern as to the barnacled bulwarks of English culture. * Gordon Burn, The Observer, Book of the Year 2003 *
Of the many books that have come out about the question of England over the past few years, Robert Coll's Identity of England brings together serious scholarship, the pulse of the personal and a passion for inquiry into this compelling subject. * Melvyn Bragg, The Observer, Books of the Year 2002 *
Provocatively argued and pungently expressed ... A crucial issue [and] a great book ... It is thought-provoking, sophisticated, drawing on a wide range of intellectual resources, and offering hard-edged analysis. * Stephen Howe, The Independent *
Colls' probing new study shows that the English have been reinventing themselves all along ... A fine and engagingly personal book. * John Gardiner, BBC History Magazine *
One of the finest books on this complex and difficult subject it is possible to imagine. * Simon Heffer, Literary Review *
[Identity of England] sinks deep shafts into the national history. * Paul Laity, London Review of Books *
A highly focused assessment of our national self ... Colls is strong on the economic and political imperatives at play ... The discussion is coherent and well documented and the concluding section, England Now, is pretty chilling. * Tribune *
[Identity of England] allies brilliant perception with common sense. * Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman (Four Stars) *
[The] best introduction to the English example. * J M Roberts, Oxford Magazine *
A totally fascinating sweep across the subject. * Melvyn Bragg, The Good Book Guide *
Colls has produced a deeply felt, zestfully written book which makes an important contribution to the ongoing debate about the national identity. * Jeffrey Richards, Cultural and Social History *
[The] breadth of reading and allusion recalls the late Raphael Samuel. * Hugh Kearney, History Workshop Journal *
[A] masterly summary of the emergence of the idea of an English nation ... a profound and balanced account. * Bernard Crick, Political Quarterly *
Sensitive, subtle, deeply human. * Chris Williams, American Historical Review *
[A] sophisticated and scholarly study of some breadth. * Munira Mirza, Culture Wars *
This is us he's writing about... * Munira Mirza, Q News *
