Book Review A Useful Fiction by Patrick Hannan
Subtitled "Adventures in British Democracy" this is a personal ramble around the subject. "Adventures" might be overselling it a bit, "anecdotes" would be more accurate. Hannan keeps presenting new and interesting views of how this whole nationhood and union fit together, he has a suitably vinegarish tongue for most subjects, except for Peter Hain where his familiarity with the oil stain shows through. But that is one of the charms of the book, it is one mans view and as a guide he is excellent in revealing different vistas.
If how the nations of these islands work together interest you I can recommend it as paperback to pack with the sunscreen, the sort of book you can read a bit and come back to on another day for another aperçu to stimulate the brain.
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