Jeremy Paxman's 'The English'

I have just finished the book - a bit of a marathon, but certainly worth it. It is rather excellent and comprises an in-depth look at the concept of Englishness and how, despite some minor revisions, it contains many immutable values (such as a respect for the rights of the individual, a strong predilection towards getting periodically drunk, and a certain feel of superiority when it comes to foreigners) these having permeated our country's rich history from before 1066, right up until the current day.

Paxman is an excellent writer, being both erudite and yet clear, citing many sources, whilst making sure each is interesting and relevant. I would recommend the book to anyone with an interest on the topic of England's national identity and consciousness, as it is both comprehensive and highly enjoyable.

It's hard to say whether I prefer his The Political Animal to the book or not. Having an interest in both history and politics, I found them to be essentially of equal value. In any case, reading either of them would certainly not be a waste of anyone's time.