ABSTRACT
In literary studies collections on Shakespeare and Ireland. Shakespeare and Scotland, and Shakespeare and Wales have added weight to the non-Anglo end of the 'British' seesaw, while England is acknowledged more in the breach than the observance. Issues raised by events in Ireland and Ulster, the retreat from colonialism followed by immigration from former colonies, the rise of Welsh and Scottish nationalism, the special problems of Africa, membership of the European economic community, the Falklands campaign, have all to some degree brought into focus the matter of the definition, limits and specific character of 'Englishness'. If the protestation of nationhood is disavowed as something vulgar and showy, this comment risks, despite the irony, being complicit with the bluff patriotism of Raleigh and his generation: nobody here but us civilized-home counties, middle class, English.
