England: The Making Of The Myth From Stonehenge To Albert Square – Maureen Duffy

England: The Making of the Myth from Stonehenge to Albert Square by Maureen Duffy is a sweeping narrative history tracing 3,000 years of England’s evolution — not just as a nation, but as a cultural idea. This nonfiction work delves into how political, religious, environmental, and social influences have shaped what it means to be ‘English’, weaving together threads from ancient Stonehenge to the modern streets of Albert Square. Duffy explores everything from the myth of the Englishwoman to the powerful markers of class embedded in dialect, crafting a history as much about identity as events.

Duffy’s analysis reaches beyond kings and battles, focusing on the stories, traditions, and attitudes that have built England’s self-image. She questions popular assumptions about ‘Englishness’, illustrating how centuries of absorbing different cultures — from Roman legions to Norman conquerors, Saxons to Victorians — have created a complex, often contradictory national character. In her conclusion, Duffy argues that this rich, layered heritage should naturally align England with a European future, while warning against the creeping influence of Americanisation.

A thought-provoking, engaging history for readers interested in English identity, cultural studies, and how national myths are created and preserved.