Looking North: Northern England and the National Imagination

Considering areas as diverse as travel literature, fiction, dialect, the stage, radio, television, feature film, music and sport, this book assesses the portrayal of the North within the national culture and how this has impacted upon attitudes to the region and its place within notions of ‘Englishness’. The relationship between culture and our understanding of regional identity has received only limited consideration and this fascinating work provides not only much new information, but also a map for future writers. The North, although seen ultimately as ‘other’ and the subject of much critical comment, is also shown here as capable of stimulating the creative imagination and invigorating English culture in sometimes surprising ways. Rooted in extensive research, this scholarly and enjoyable to read book is accessibly written and will be of interest to those interested in the representation, position and future role of the North of England.