Warrior Race: A History of the British at War Book

Modern Britain is a nation shaped by wars. The boundaries of its separate parts are the outcome of conquest and resistance. Warrior heroes - real, imaginary and a mixture of both - are deeply embedded in the collective memories and culture of the English, Welsh, Scots and Irish. Boadicea, King Arthur, Wallace, Rob Roy and Henry V still enjoy a powerful hold over the imagination. Britishness has had a sense of collective identity which grew under careful official cultivation during the global struggles of the 18th century and found its most powerful expression during the world wars of the 20th. Modern war was seen as the ultimate test of a nation's moral and physical stamina, and Britain emerged with an enviable record which underpinned national pride and a sense of superiority that survived well into the second half of the 20th century. This book investigates and examines the part played by war in the making of Britain, embracing the most recent historical and archaeological research.Read More