The Little Book of England

Did you know? • The first African community to arrive in England was stationed at Aballava on Hadrian's Wall to keep out the Picts. • Admiral Robert FitzRoy, creator of the Met Office, was so upset by criticism of his weather forecasts that he shot himself. • While studying at Cambridge, Charles Darwin formed the 'Glutton Club' for the purpose of eating unusual animals. • Ada Lovelace wrote a computer code in the nineteenth century, before a working computer had even been invented. • Maids of Honour at Henry VIII's court were given eight pints of ale per day and his army mutinied in Spain when the ale ran out. A little book about a BIG subject. England's not huge in land mass, but there is a lot to say about this little country. Yes, we'll be touching on the obvious bits - Shakespeare, 1966, disappointing weather, etc., but we'll also be going in search of what's under the surface of English history, society and culture. What is it that makes England England? People all over the world think they know the answer to that: the King or Queen, awkward politeness, Beefeaters and losing in penalties in international football. But we English know that we're a bit more complicated than such stereotypes. Or are we? Let's find out.

STUART LAYCOCK studied Classics at Cambridge, before working as a writer in advertising. He is now a historian and writer, and has written a number of history books, including Britannia: The Failed State (nominated for Current Archaeology Book of the Year) and the bestselling All the Countries We've Ever Invaded.