The Lion and the Unicorn.

George Orwell's book written in 1940 when Britain stood alone after the fall of France is a great defence of our culture and way of life. Its in the tradition of Swift and Bunyan as a statement of intent and call to arms. He has a particular regard for what he termed the 'English genius'. His patriotism is strong and robust but not xenophobic or jingoistic. He has scant regard for the pointed headed intellectuals who look down of patriotism as small minded. He hopes for an English revolution and a form of socialism that is not top down be from the bottom up. He hopes the working class will throw of their chains and seek a naturally better life, where hierarchy and inequality are things of the past. He has a six point plan that he believes will only be the starting point of the new world order. He is excoriating of the upper classes and aristocracy saying 'they were simply parasites, less useful to society than his fleas are to a dog'. A book worth reading today as a statement of how great this country is with its enduring values as we fight this scourge of international Islamic fanaticism and hatred.