If you would know the English

[jbarter]

I know it's not ITM but there's a lot about English tradition and music in this.

Book recommendation - In Search Of Albion by Colin Irwin.

If you really want to understand why no-one will ever understand the English and find out what we're like when we're not wasting our time trying to conquer other people then read this book. Alternatively, if you just fancy a good laugh then read this book.

You can find out about loads of customs preserved since time immoral (or last week), learn about the joys (or lack thereof) of caravanning in Cornwall, discover English music (including the bits the Irish keep trying to pinch off us), or just find further proof that our yokels are undoubtedly the daftest on Earth.

Every Englishman should have this as required reading and Johnny Foreigner (colonials included) will find new 'must see' sights to see (if they're ever brave enough to venture here after reading this).


BTW for ITM fans he has another book called In Search Of The Craic of which I've just got a copy. I can hardly wait.

[Tyler]

Thanks john, i'll be off to Ye Old Amazon.com in a bit!
Looks like an exciting read; I've always been interested in history.

[Cathy Wilde]

<snip>
You can find out about loads of customs preserved since time immoral <snip>

And that about says it all! God help me, I love you guys. Thanks so much! I'll put both books on the list.

[SteveShaw]

I know it's not ITM but there's a lot about English tradition and music in this.

Book recommendation - In Search Of Albion by Colin Irwin.

If you really want to understand why no-one will ever understand the English and find out what we're like when we're not wasting our time trying to conquer other people then read this book. Alternatively, if you just fancy a good laugh then read this book.

You can find out about loads of customs preserved since time immoral (or last week), learn about the joys (or lack thereof) of caravanning in Cornwall, discover English music (including the bits the Irish keep trying to pinch off us), or just find further proof that our yokels are undoubtedly the daftest on Earth.

Every Englishman should have this as required reading and Johnny Foreigner (colonials included) will find new 'must see' sights to see (if they're ever brave enough to venture here after reading this).


BTW for ITM fans he has another book called In Search Of The Craic of which I've just got a copy. I can hardly wait.

Should be good - Colin has a deadly eye for the good and not-so-good in our kind of music and he writes in a very entertaining manner.

Steve

[djm]

I have ordered both from Amazon. I like recommendations like this. If I don't like the books, I know who made the recommendation (and where they live).

djm

[jbarter]

I have ordered both from Amazon. I like recommendations like this. If I don't like the books, I know who made the recommendation (and where they live).

djm

When you come looking for me, if you've read the book, at least you'll know where not to stay in Louth.

[Tyler]

You can find out about loads of customs preserved since time immoral....

dont really care how you spend your immoral time, john, just keep it where we can't see it

have ordered the first book, will let you know what I think
Thanks again!

[malanstevenson]

If you would know the genesis of Perfidious Albion, here are some academically-oriented greatest hits:

Linda Colley. Britons; Forging the Nation, 1707–1837.
http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book ... 0300107595

E.P. Thompson. The Making of the English Working Class.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Making ... king_Class

Eric Hobsbawm & Terence Ranger. The Invention of Tradition.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 0?v=glance


Fascinating stuff.

[anniemcu]

jbarter wrote:...
BTW for ITM fans he has another book called In Search Of The Craic of which I've just got a copy. I can hardly wait.

So... was it good??

[djm]

I got both on the recommendation of this thread and would have to say they are both pretty damned useless travel guides unless you are already well informed about all the people and places in the books. Both or them are about the travels of a music journalist as he wanders about recalling the names of various obscure (to me) musicians and performers and their old haunts. There is one really funny story about a horse race at the beginning of the Irish book, but it rapidly goes downhill after that to join the English book.

Not impressed. I wouldn't recommend either book.

djm

[Father Emmet]

There is one really funny story about a horse race at the beginning of the Irish book, but it rapidly goes downhill after that to join the English book.

Not impressed. I wouldn't recommend either book.

djm

Yep, the horse race story was very good, but didn't care for the rest of it. The whole Englishman in Ireland 'genre' is pretty bad, but at least he wasn't traveling with a refrigerator or some other nonsense.
Read "Last Nights Fun" instead of "ISO the Craic", so much better.

[Brian Lee]

...at least he wasn't traveling with a refrigerator or some other nonsense.

You didn't like 'Round Ireland with a Fridge'?

[Harry]

Padre, shame on you, a learnéd man like you should know that the english sense of humour is no laughing matter!

I seen that guy being interviewed during his hibernian kitchen installment adventure; he was convinced that he was hilarious, the Irish morning TV presenter/interviewer (no stranger to inane banality) was having a hard time convincing her audience that she didn't think that this 'wacky' goof-ball wasn't a deeply misguided infantile knob.

The Irwin stuff generally reminds me of self obsessed and boring revival 'folkies' that I sometimes get cornered by. 'Last Night's Fun' is one I'd definitely have on my coffee table; if I had a coffee table and was lame enough to leave designer ID books on it that is.

Regards,

Harry.

[Father Emmet]

... the english sense of humour is no laughing matter!