Northerners
A History, from the Ice Age to the Present Day
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Northerners
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Narrated by:
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Nicholas Camm
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By:
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Brian Groom
About this listen
A Waterstones Best History Book of 2022
The bestselling history of the North of England as told through the lives of its inhabitants.
A work of unrivalled scale and ambition, Northerners is the defining biography of northern England.
This authoritative new history of place and people lays out the dramatic events that created the north–waves of migration, invasions and battles, and transformative changes wrought on European culture and the global economy. In a sweeping narrative that takes us from the earliest times to the present day, the book shows that the people of the north have shaped Britain and the world in unexpected ways.
At least six Roman emperors ruled from York. The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria was Europe’s leading cultural and intellectual centre. Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes, deserves to be as famous as Boudica. Neanderthals and Vikings, Central European Jews, African-Caribbeans and South Asians, have all played their part in the making and remaking of the north. Northern writers, activists, artists and comedians are celebrated the world over, from Wordsworth, the Brontes and Gaskell to LS Lowry, Emmeline Pankhurst and Peter Kay. St Oswald and Bede shaped the spiritual and cultural landscapes of Britain and Europe, and the world was revolutionised by the inventions of Richard Arkwright and the Stephensons. The north has exported some of sport’s biggest names and defined the sound of generations, from the Beatles to Britpop.
Northerners also shows convincingly how the past echoes down the centuries. The devastation of factory and pit closures in the 1980s, for example, recalled the trauma of William the Conqueror’s Harrying of the North. The book charts how the north-south divide has ebbed and flowed and explores the very real divisions between northerners, such as the rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Finally, Brian Groom explores what northernness means today and the crucial role the north can play in Britain’s future. As new forces threaten the fabric of the UK again, this landmark book could scarcely be more timely.
©2022 Brian Groom (P)2022 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Brian Groom is one of the most respected journalists of his generation—an essential writer on politics and business and a tireless champion of the North." (George Parker, political editor, Financial Times)
"Few people are better placed to write the story of Northerners than Brian Groom, one of journalism’s most astute observers of the state of Britain." (Helen Pidd, North of England editor, The Guardian)
What listeners say about Northerners
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Wilding
- 14-06-24
An excellent account of the history of the north
Really enjoyed this book, it was varied in content and well written. I found it a fair account and did not come across as biased.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jorge Percival
- 25-09-24
Good but not great
I really love the concept of this book, I’m proud to learn more about how much of a history place the north of England is. I learnt a lot buy at some points it just felt like I was listening to someone reel off dates. Wish the stories had a bit more meat on occasion.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rowena Gomersall
- 24-09-22
l
Fascinating account of why our country is so divided. The past casts very long shadows.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 21-02-24
Aery interesting narrative
The narrator tries a little bit too hard and his breathy tone begins to grate after a while.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sander
- 20-01-24
Disappointing
The book gives a broad, at times fascinating but ultimately superficial overview of the North’s history. The author’s conservative bias is, at times, palpable, causing him to omit key points. I found the narrator’s diction indulgent and agree with a previous reviewer’s comments. The execrable rendition of an Irish accent in a woefully partial quote from an Irish woman is insulting in both context and delivery. Born in Burnley, with ancestors rooted in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Ireland, I was looking forward to this. Disappointing.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-06-24
A decent read
Good book overstated the diversity of the North however on the whole accurate and enjoyable to listen to.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- The Commandante
- 01-08-23
‘Northern’ Narrator is dreadful
I was looking forward to this book but it’s hard to judge the content as my view is so jaded by the narrator. Sensibly they’ve tried to select someone with a northern accent. Sadly, it’s so over the top and exaggerated that it spoils the whole thing. I’m a northerner so am used to hearing these accents every day. But this guy is nothing like a real northerner and absolutely dreadful. He sounds constantly annoyed and like he can’t be bothered to read the sentence. Such a shame!
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-01-24
Pretty good book, awful narration
I liked the broad sweep, it was ambitious and interesting. But such an annoying narrator. All that sighing and ponderous over acting. Terrible to listen to. Really awful. I am from West Yorkshire and know an accent when I hear one but this guy is a total ham.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Beth Parker
- 05-03-23
Brilliant detailed book, wonderfully presented
Although it has taken me the best part of 6 months to get through this book (with many a book in between) it has been a fascinating listen from start to finish. I believe this is one of the best attempts to make history, 'story-like' and I far prefer it to the writing style of say, The silk roads. dashed with humour, dark wit and (fairly-distributed) scorn, it really does manage to enthrall you. I particularly liked the placement of litoral mentions such as the works of Gaskell and the Brontë Sisters.
Listen, and enjoy
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Honest reader
- 22-12-24
The history behind the cultural divide
I especially enjoyed the earliest chapters, and did learn new facts and stories that may have contributed to the apparent North South divide: im old enough to have clear memories of the last fifty years so the last chapters were merely reminding me of the depressing facts. No Government has proved committed in any meaningful way to rebalancing the countries economics geographically, and the voters have added to their pain exponentially by voting Brexit without even understanding it. Depressing. I advise you to skip the last chapters lol.
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