England, Their England facts for kids
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| Author | A. G. Macdonell |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Social satire |
| Publisher | MacMillan |
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Publication date
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Dec. 1933 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | ix p., 1 l., 299 p. 20 cm. foreword by Christopher Morley (first edition) |
| OCLC | 366073 |
| Followed by | How Like An Angel (1934) |
England, Their England (1933) is a funny and clever book by Scottish writer A. G. Macdonell. It's a satire, which means it uses humor to show the silly or serious parts of society. The book looks at English life in the 1920s, both in cities and the countryside. It is especially famous for its funny descriptions of village cricket games.
Contents
What's the Book About?
This novel is a type of social satire. It explores how English society was changing between World War I and World War II. The book's style is similar to other famous writers of that time. These include Evelyn Waugh, P. G. Wodehouse, and Jerome K. Jerome.
The book is also known for its detailed look at traditional village cricket. Many people say the book is a roman à clef. This means some characters are based on real people. England, Their England won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1933. This is a very important award for books. The title of the book is a playful nod to a famous poem called "Pro Rege Nostro" by William Ernest Henley.
The Story of Donald Cameron
The story takes place in England during the 1920s. It is told like a travel diary. The main character is a young Scotsman named Donald Cameron. He was injured during World War I on the Western Front. This was a major battle area.
Donald's father's will makes him live in England. He starts by writing for newspapers in London. Later, a Welshman asks him to write a book. This book should describe the English people from a foreigner's point of view.
Donald's Adventures in England
Donald travels around the country and visits different cities. He spends his time meeting journalists and poets. He also visits a fancy country house for a weekend. He even works as a private secretary for a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to make laws.
Donald also attends meetings of the League of Nations. This was an early international group that tried to keep peace. One of the most famous parts of the book is when Donald plays village cricket. This cricket match is a big reason why the book is still popular today.
Real People in the Story
An important character in the book is Mr. Hodge. He is a funny picture of a real person, Sir John Squire. Sir John was a poet and editor of a magazine called the London Mercury. The cricket team in the book's most famous chapter is also based on Sir John's real cricket club. This club was called the Invalids, and it still exists today. The book ends in the old city of Winchester. This is where A. G. Macdonell went to school.
- MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "England, Their England." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. (2003). Accessed May 23, 2009.
