Englishness, indentity and Finding Albion

Another great event at Topping's Bath last night — seeing Zakia Sewell in conversation with Amy Jeffs about her new book, Finding Albion.

It was such a thought-provoking chat that had George Mann and me talking long into the evening in the pub. 

Zakia spoke about how the far-right is trying to co-opt English folk traditions — often successfully — despite the fact that many of those traditions have far more radical roots.

That led to a question about the Cross of St George, and something in her answer really landed: that, by choosing to call herself British rather than English, she sometimes feels she cedes her Englishness to those who use it to divide.

I realised I do the same.

I tend to default to “British” — partly out of my love for the British Isles in general but also, if I’m honest, out of discomfort with what Englishness has come to represent in recent years. Or, at least, how it’s perceived.

Which is strange, given how much I love this country’s folklore and storytelling, a lifelong passion rooted in my childhood obsession with The Box of Delights, King Arthur, Robin of Sherwood, and Doctor Who.

It’s given me a lot to think about as I dive into the book – which is now firmly at the top of my reading pile!

Thanks as always to Toppings, Zakia and Amy.