Helene Von Bismarck FANTASTIC KINGDOM with Ciaran Martin

Fantastic Kingdom

Global yet insular, tolerant yet suspicious, proudly pragmatic yet profoundly sentimental. The United Kingdom inspires fierce loyalty and endless argument. Ten years after Brexit, it is as divided as ever.
After twenty years of studying Britain, German historian Helene von Bismarck offers an affectionate and insightful portrait of the United Kingdom as seen by an outsider. From the enduring fantasy of Britain as a self-sufficient island to the profound devotion to a global monarchy; from imperial amnesia to modern multiculturalism, she explores the paradoxes and myths that shape British identity.
Clear-eyed and witty, Fantastic Kingdom is a letter from a friend, revealing why the question of what unites the country has never mattered more than now, at a time of dramatic geopolitical change when liberal democracy is under attack. Looking backwards into history, and outwards into the global context, she closes the gap between how Britain understands itself and how it is seen abroad.

Helene Von Bismarck

Helene von Bismarck is a historian, author and political commentator. Her main interest is Britain’s role in international relations during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Helene’s fascination with the past motivates her dedication to the present. She has published numerous essays providing historical context to current affairs, addressed academic and non-academic audiences around the world, and acted as a commentator on radio and television. Helene is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, as well as a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Ciaran Martin

Ciaran Martin is Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations. Prior to joining the School, Ciaran was the founding Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ. In September 2020 he was appointed Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

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