Tracing the history of the relationship between the arts and politics in England since 1940, this book shows how the concept of an English national identity is reflected in official and unofficial attitudes to the arts, landscape and architecture. In the post-war years great institutions such as the monarchy and the BBC were accepted as embodiments of English values, with the Arts Council reflecting the tastes of The great and the good. But the 70s and Thatcherism introduced to public institutions the concept of value for money. Now, in the post-Thatcher years before the new millenium, English identity and official attitudes to culture are once again in crisis.