Immigration is one of the most important stories of modern British life, yet it has been happening since Caesar first landed in 53 BC. Ever since the first Roman, Saxon, Jute and Dane leaped off a boat we have been a mongrel nation. Our roots are a tangled web. From Huguenot weavers fleeing French Catholic persecution in the 18th century to South African dentists to Indian shopkeepers; from Jews in York in the 12th century (who had to wear a yellow star to distinguish them and who were shamefully expelled by Edward I in 1272) to the Jamaican who came on board the Windrush in 1947. The first Indian MP was elected in 1892, Walter Tull, the first black football player played (for Spurs and Northampton) before WW1 (and died heroically fighting for the allies in the last months of the war); in 1768 there were 20,000 black people in London (out of a population of 600,000 - a similar percentage to today). The 19th century brought huge numbers of Italians, Irish, Jews (from Russia and Poland mainly), Germans and Poles.
This book draws all their stories together in a compelling narrative.
This book draws all their stories together in a compelling narrative.
Read more
Collapse
About the author
Robert Winder was literary editor of the INDEPENDENT for 5 years. He has written two novels.
Read more
Collapse
Additional information
Publisher
Hachette UK
Read more
Collapse
Published on
4 Nov 2010
Read more
Collapse
Pages
560
Read more
Collapse
ISBN
9780748123964
Read more
Collapse
Language
English
Read more
Collapse
Genres
Biography & Autobiography / General
History / Europe / Great Britain / General
History / General
Law / Emigration & Immigration
Political Science / Public Policy / Immigration
Social Science / Discrimination & Race Relations
Social Science / Emigration & Immigration
Read more
Collapse
Content protection
This content is DRM protected.
Read more
Collapse
Seller
Google Commerce Ltd
Read more
Collapse
Eligible for Family Library
Report
Reading information
Smartphones and Tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and Computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on E Ink devices like the Sony eReader or Barnes & Noble Nook, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Please follow the detailed Help Centre instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.