Nations and Nationalism Since 1780 by Eric Hobsbawm
I've got a few books about nationalism from the library from different aspects (see book choice 4) and the modernist\Marxist perspective is an important one. I read the author for A Level, the last 2 years of high school in the UK, and it's easier to see the Marxism shine through than it was then - and as this book was written in the late 1980s when it was all about to collapse I suspect this is less Marxist than the books I read. Don't really agree with him about nationalism which he's sniffy about as I see a much closer link between nationalism and democracy and while Hobsbawm isn't sure he approves of either, he certainly doesn't see much of a link. And all the class analysis really does look like he's fitting the facts to the theory even when it's clear he now doubts the theory to which he devoted his life. Some nice anecdotes and illustrations though.
The Construction of Nationhood by Adrian Hastings
Marxists apparently argue that nationalism wasn't a big factor until the late eighteenth century. Then you had capitalism and the bourgeoise going up and if not inventing, but "imagining" nations. Hobsbawm, my previous author almost argues that. As does Benedict Anderson who I'm reading alongside this book. There are some massive gaps that they try to adapt for. This book argues against that, and that a lot of European nations were nations as well as states in medieval times and were almost fully formed by the late eighteenth century. The French didn't become a recognisably French nation just before the French Revolution. This gives plenty of examples. It's also shot through with a Christian argument that Christianity made different nations more acceptable and provided church structures that didn't just constrict growing nationalism but also gave it form. I can see his point but not sure I buy it as much as I bought the idea that nations were robust solid entities before 1750. It's not just because I reject the Marxist straightjacket on history, it's more fundamental. I can read what Shakespeare says about St Crispin's Day or This sceptered isle.
Completed two (and re-anchored my quotes)
Fenland Chronicle: Recollections of William Henry And Kate Mary Edwards Collected And Edited By Their Daughter by Sybil Marshall
Was on holiday near the fens (would lose some Mustachian points) and picked this up. Not my normal fare, but it was an entertaining oral history - almost certainly embellished by the author but still quite nice for all that. There's something that's both deeply English but still quite alien about the Fens (Imperial Mud: The Fight for the Fens by James Boyce is a fun, if not entirely convincing, reading of Fen life as an anti-colonial struggle). The recollections are sometimes as far back as the late Victorian times so there is a real glimpse of poverty - but also some things that probably wouldn't make a similar book these days such as an argument FOR domestic service and some strong arguments for "chapel" morality.
Can You Forgive Her by Anthony Trollope
I absolutely adored a BBC box set of "The Pallisers" a few years ago, but mainly for the view of mid Victorian politics. In that sense Can You Forgive Her was thin gruel. There were some scenes (particularly the chapter on the Chelsea by-election and the constant presence of the "parliamentary agent") but it was mostly about girly things like feelings and marriage and stuff. It was well written enough to endure it and I'm on to my next novel in the series. I decided to listen to the Librivox audiobooks of the novels, as far as I can bear them, instead of my diet of podcasts. If you can deal with variation of readers (and so ability) Librivox is a very good value at free and there is an enormous selection. It also helps me with my goal.
I will be slowing down for the next few weeks as I've got to finally face up to an exam.
1. Deep South by Paul Theroux
2. Money and Power by Vince Cable
3. Cavour by Evelyn Cesaresco
4. This Sovereign Isle by Robert Tombs
5. The Glorious Revolution by Eveline Cruickshanks
6. Return to Essentials by G R Elton
7. Nations and Nationalism Since 1780 by Eric Hobsbawm
8. The Construction of Nationhood by Adrian Hastings
9. Fenland Chronicle by Sybil Marshall
10. Can You Forgive Her by Anthony Trollope