These Isles

An inventive new look at the entwined histories of Britain and Ireland’s nations – and the people who have called them home.

Acclaimed author and journalist Brian Groom reveals the colourful and often-contested history of the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and others who have occupied these islands, along with their culture, languages and passions.

Packed with surprise and insight, These Isles explores the role of religion, the British Empire, international diasporas and internal migration, gender relations and war in a nuanced and entertaining narrative.

With forays into popular culture, sport, music, language, literature and art, These Isles stretches from 800,000-year-old footprints on a Norfolk beach to the changing fortunes of the early twenty-first century. It offers a uniquely rich and kaleidoscopic vision of the shared stories of people across Britain and Ireland – past and present.

Reviews

‘A combined history of these four fascinating and turbulent nations makes sense, and that’s just what Mancunian author Brian Groom has so entertainingly provided … The book offers an exhilarating bird’s eye view of these four nations, shifting our attention away from London, from kings and parliaments, and moving us further west and north.’ Daily Mail

'Condenses thousands of years into an accessible survey, and debates to what extent a “common British identity” has been created over that time. … Groom's combination of pace and scope has the advantage of letting us see a massive swath of history in time lapse. The book also has the measured and sober tone of someone straining not to politicise things with infinite capacity for politicisation.' Financial Times

'Brian Groom’s whistlestop reminder of the tensions which have always existed between the peoples of these isles could hardly be more timely.' James Hawes

'At last a history of the peoples of Britain in the plural, long overdue.' Simon Jenkins

'Fascinating … an eloquent, well-researched narrative that provides a vital rebuke to the extremists now claiming ownership of national flags.' Philip Stephens

'Concise, stylish, scholarly. This book doesn’t follow the drumbeat of any particular theory of history and is all the better for it. … Fits the bill perfectly.' Scotsman

Praise for Brian Groom…

‘Entertaining and informative. … Groom keeps his history admirably down to earth.’ The Times, Book of the Week

‘A rich and kaleidoscopic history of a region, its landscape, industries, culture and people. Rigorous, digressive, discursive, always entertaining and enlightening.’ Stuart Maconie

‘Few people are better placed to write the story of northerners. One of journalism’s most astute observers of the state of Britain.’ Helen Pidd

About the author

Brian Groom is a journalist and a leading expert on British regional and national affairs. His career was spent mainly at the Financial Times, where he was assistant editor. He lives in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester.

His first book, Northerners, was a Waterstones History Book of the Year and his second, Made in Manchester, was a Financial Times Book of the Year.