Covering history, attitudes to foreigners, sport, stereotypes, language and more, this book includes stories and anecdotes that provide a portrait of the English nation and its people.

A critical history of modern Irish literature. Kiberd develops his story through subtle readings of such writers as Joyce, O'Casey, Beckett and Bowen. Giving a controversial interpretation of post-colonial Ireland, he then surveys more recent works, from Brian Friel to the younger Dublin writers.

The remarkable debut novel from Khaled Hosseini, now out in paperback in a stunning new package

A collection of memoir, fiction and poetry that explores being British from the perspective of the newly arrived. This work is both a personal and social history of the migratory tracks that have gone into creating the contemporary identities that form our society and an unflinching reminder of what it is to be an outsider.

When the author was sixteen, he became an Islamic fundamentalist. Five years later, after much emotional turmoil, he rejected fundamentalist teachings and returned to normal life and his family. He tried to put his experiences behind him, but as the events of 7/7 unfolded, it became clear to him that Islamist groups pose a threat to this country.

Tamerlane, the Ottomans, the Mughals, the Manchus, the British, the Soviets, the Japanese and the Nazis - all built empires they hoped would last forever: all were destined to fail. This book shows how their empire building created the world.

This work combines two of Bill Bryson's best-loved books and demonstrates his take on life - from either side of the pond. Written in the form of bite-sized essays, both books are gently humorous as they highlight the idiosyncracies of the USA and Great Britain.

From the handsome building of Cape Coast Castle on the Atlantic shore African men, women and children were sold as slaves and carried across the ocean. This book tells the story of the castle and some of the people who lived, worked or were imprisoned within its walls.

Takes readers month-by-month, day-by-day, through the festivities of English life. This book explains how the festivities originated, what they mean and when they occur.

'York Notes Advanced' offer an accessible approach to English Literature. This series has been completely updated to meet the needs of today's A-level and undergraduate students. Written by established literature experts, York Notes Advanced introduce students to more sophisticated analysis, a range of critical perspectives and wider contexts.

This sourcebook is ideal for those new to Yeats's poetry or those who wish to look deeper into its workings, its reception and the contexts from which it emerged.

Prada, Gucci, Max Mara: 'alta moda' is synonymous with luxury, glamour and pleasure. Yet Italian fashion also has a dark history. The fascism of 1930's Italy dominated more than just politics - it spilled over into modes of dress. 'Fashion under Fascism' considers this link in detail.

In 54BC, Julius Caesar launched the first Roman invasion of Britain. His was the first detailed account of the Celtic tribes that inhabited the Isles. But where had they come from and how long had they been there? This work takes us on a journey around the family tree of Britain and Ireland, to reveal how our tribal history colours the country.

Demonstrates that the Anglo-Saxon invasions contributed just a tiny fraction (5 per cent) to the English gene pool. Two thirds of the English people reveal an unbroken line of genetic descent from south-western Europeans arriving long before the first farmers.

Explores the politics of post-Soviet transition and the problems which continue to face these states well into the twenty-first century, as they struggle towards democracy, market reform, ethnic co-existence and integration into a geopolitical post-Cold War world order.

Presents a different interpretation of American nationalism and the future prospects for diverse democracies. Tracing how Americans have confronted and clung to group identities, this book aims to debunk one of the guiding assumptions of American nationhood - that group distinction would dissolve over time, creating a 'postethnic' nation.

David Smale traces the critical reception of this writer by examining the changing responses to his two best-known works. The Guide brings together both academic criticism and journalism to investigate the passions and preoccupations of Rushdie's critics, steering the reader through the debates and rhetoric surrounding this author.

This guide offers a succinct, easy-to-read introduction to the key issues and historiography of British imperialism from the late 18th century to 2002. Each chapter addresses questions posed by the nature of imperialism in its various military, economic, political and cultural forms.

The Continuum Contemporaries series provides informative and accessible introductions to some of the most important and influential novels of recent years. Each volume contains a biography of the novelist in question, a detailed summary of plot, characters and context, and details of film and television adaptions.