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About this talk

The Europeanist Society is pleased to welcome James Hawes, British novelist, popular historian and Creative Writing lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, for a discussion exploring the historical roots of Englishness and Britishness and their significance for contemporary politics. What does it mean to be English, and how does English identity relate to the broader idea of Britishness? This conversation will examine how identities, historical narratives and regional divisions have shaped modern British politics, with particular attention to the relationship between England and the wider United Kingdom. Drawing on his work as a historian and novelist, Hawes will discuss the historical development of English identity, Britain’s relationship with continental Europe, and the political consequences of longstanding social, regional and class divisions. The discussion will also consider how these historical dynamics can help us understand contemporary debates surrounding Brexit, the United Kingdom and its place in Europe. Hawes is best known for The Shortest History of England, a concise history of England that challenges conventional national narratives and explores the country’s long-standing regional divisions, relationship with continental Europe and social structure. He is also the author of The Shortest History of Germany and the novel Speak for England, which anticipated several of the political tensions that later came to prominence during the Brexit era. The event will offer an opportunity to explore how history continues to shape political identities and debates in Britain, and to consider what Englishness and Britishness mean in contemporary Europe. No registration is required. Admission is free for Europeanist Society members / £3.50 for non-members. Get your membership here: https://www.eusoc-oxford.co.uk/join

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