The book presents crucial facts and events, selected from the countless defining moments in British history and culture: the appearance of prehistoric man in the British Isles; the influence of Celtic culture from a wider, not only insular perspective; the origins of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms; the historical truth and legendary aspects of the Arthurian myth; sea and imperial expansion; the most important factors and players in the fight for freedom; and finally, the development and cultural meaning of the English concept of sport. Although the author discusses well known historical and cultural events, he does this from a non-British perspective and frequently suggests new hypotheses and analyses for some unsolved problems of British cultural history, such as the lack of English protagonists in Old English literature, the Five Borough question and the etymology of 'fair play' as an ethical term and norm.
Author(s): Wojciech Lipoński
Series: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Filologia Angielska, 47
Publisher: Adam Mickiewicz University Press
Year: 2015
Language: English
Pages: 424
City: Poznań
AUTHOR'S PREFACE 7
Chapter One
THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF BRITAIN 13
Chapter Two
THE CELTIC CHARACTER OF THE BRITISH ISLES 35
Chapter Three
PAGAN CELTIC RELIGION 61
Chapter Four
"I AM THE STRENGTH OF ART": A POET IN ARCHAIC CELTIC SOCIETY 79
Chapter Five
FOUR CYCLES OF CELTIC LITERATURE 93
Chapter Six
FROM 'GA' TO HEPTARCHY: REMARKS ON THE ORIGINS OF ANGLO-SAXON KINGDOMS 121
Chapter Seven
THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND 141
Chapter Eight
ANGLO-SAXON POETS AND POETRY 167
Chapter Nine
ORIGINS OF BRITISH PROTESTANTISM 193
Chapter Ten
PURITANISM AND ITS CONTEMPORARY AFTERMATHS 229
Chapter Eleven
THE HISTORY AND CONCEPT OF FREEDOM IN BRITISH CIVILIZATION 253
Chapter Twelve
BRITISH MARITIME TRADITIONS 283
Chapter Thirteen
THE ROLE OF SPORT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH CIVILIZATION, PASTIMES AND LANGUAGE 321
Chapter Fourteen
EXPANSION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE 371
