The Duchess of York has done her finest work in this elegant and collectible book. It contains very carefully documented and well written information on Victoria and Albert's life with their children. The pictures and drawings bring us to another place and time in the grandeur of this Victorian Royal Family. Anyone doing research on Queen Victoria and her family must take a look at this valuable book!!!!

I enjoyed the premise of the book, given that England seems to be well on its way to becoming one big theme park, almost overflowing with so-called "experiences" to milk tourists. But Barnes doesn't quite deliver on the promise, although the writing is good and the book has its funny moments. I enjoyed the list of essential English traits and objects- only notable ommission was the Beatles (if I remember correctly). Having said this, the book is still worth reading, although I enjoyed The History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters more.

I bought England, England after watching an interview with Julian Barnes on French television. The commentator made it clear that, in her view, the English had received the book badly, being upset that somebody could mock their monarchy and their traditions. Being Manx (which is British, but NOT English) I couldn't wait to get my hands on the book, and sat feeling smug as the postman arrived.

I wasn't disappointed. Barnes lets rip at commercialisation, and at the outdated English acceptance of things they feel to be beyond their control. He portrays England as a Disneyland, with the prince (guess which one!) as one of the buffoon Mickey Mouse characters. Good for him - he hit that one right on the nose!

Whether or not the English didn't like England, England, I can't say (there are plenty of non-Monarchists over there), but the book was a worthy read and kept me giggling and guffawing for some days. Barnes' characterizations are somewhat mixed (some good, some less so) but his portrayal of 'Sir Jack' makes up for any shortcomings in that particular department.

Julian Barnes didn't impress me much with his first book, "Metroland", so it was with some scepticism and doubt that I started on his 1998 Booker Prize nominated "England, England". The prognosis was good after reading the first short section entitled "England" and any reservations I had quickly lifted. Though this promising introduction proved relevant, it didn't quite point to the direction the novel was headed for. What ensues is an engaging mix of some pretty serious ideas, brilliantly executed. Barnes' craft, his razor sharp wit and sense of humour reminds me very much of Martin Amis, another luminous contemporary novelist with an uncompromising yet dazzling style. Here, in "England, England", Barnes uses satire to present, analyse and explore the modern day obsession with "replicas", the advantages of which over their sources have been touted without any genuine understanding of its implications. Sure, "originals" are a true slice of life and therefore, messy, smelly and unpredictable. Replicas, on the other hand, are neat, run like clockwork, and given to stage management for optimum commercial effect. But they're sterile and false and the antithesis of life itself. Notice how the actors in the Isle of Wight (England, England) grow unruly, break down, or start to invent human forms of activity after the loss of contact with the real world. Ironically, Martha, the damaged heroine, learns a few hard lessons from her real life interaction with the likes of Paul and Sir Jack. Barnes punctuates his tale with hilarious surprises along the way. These little flourishes only serves to whet your appetite. But he delivers each time and...how ! The last instalment is an absolute coup de grace, an elaborate painting (almost) of the future of old England. The effect is both poignant and ambivalent and to be relished by the reader. "England, England" is serious fiction of the first order. It is thematically rich, full of humour and wit, and a joy to read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

This book is a good help to those researching family history in this section of the Isle of Wight. Although containing no census data, and only a few parish record entries, it is useful in getting an idea of the local identities and the times they lived in. Of course, not all residents are mentioned, which may disappoint some. However, if you are determined and don't mind reading it from front to back, a few gems may appear.