In one section of this short novel the theme-park Dr Johnson talks entirely in direct quotations from his distinguished 18th-century counterpart, before being judged insufficiently convincing. The real, we understand, is less compelling than the fake. There are so many cultural allusions per page that the head of even the most enthusiastic English culture snob will spin. --Lisa Jardine

'England, England' is a fine book, and there's more in there than you might think.


'So English!' - Julian Barnes and 'England, England'   October 19, 1998
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Recent reviews have all concentrated upon the patchey nature of Julian Barnes's recent Booker nominated novel 'England, England'. For once the reviewers are right!. The opening chapter is a delight to read, setting up the central theme of the myth of nationality and inparticular 'Englishness' through a nuanced and subtle exploration of a young girls memory. However, this opening quality soon gives way to often crass and tasteless passages that are further let down by a distinct absence of writing quality. The passage containing the sexual exploits of the MD character as he dresses in baby outfit and is massaged until he literally s**ts on the prositute is one such episode. At times Barnes does come back with episodes of quality such as when he theorises the myth making that he examines; and occasionally he is funny (the vist of the king to the island in particular) but overall this is a poor performance.