This England
Encyclopedia
This England is a quarterly magazine
published in England
. It has a large readership among expatriate
s, especially the elderly. It concentrates on the traditional values and customs of the English people, particularly those of rural and small-town England.
, who held it as a private company (This England International Ltd.). Faiers remained editor-in-chief until 2009, when the company was bought by DC Thomson of Dundee
, owners of the Sunday Post, Beano
, Dandy
and other publications. Faiers was succeeded as editor by his former deputy editor, Stephen Garnett. Now based in Cheltenham
, This England has a circulation of 100,000.
The name This England comes from the declamations of John of Gaunt in Act II, Scene I of Shakespeare's
King Richard II
: "This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle... This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England."
editorial outlook. It showcased articles against the European Union
and related topics like metrication. In the 1990s, it lent its support to New Britain
, a right-wing political group, praising it as "the organisation which is campaigning for a complete revival of our country".
Jeremy Paxman
remarked that the magazine's greatest enemy was "the march of time", claiming that "not one article in the magazine looks forward to the future".
Since 2009, the new owners have subdued the magazine's political content without letting it disappear entirely: the magazine still offers for sale the traditional navy blue British passport
covers, made to completely sheathe the European Union
covers, as well as British flag stickers designed to replace EU flags on driving licenses and the disabled "blue badges".
The magazine's non-political content continues to remain focused on English cultural history and lore
, chiefly from the period of about 1930-1960.
The magazine started with the slogan "As refreshing as a cup of tea!" Later issues described themselves as "For all those who love this green and pleasant land", and "Britain's loveliest magazine since 1968".
This England has a sister publication, Evergreen, which features less national content and concentrates on village life. Another companion publication, Beautiful Britain, was launched in 2006, aimed at a younger audience.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It has a large readership among expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s, especially the elderly. It concentrates on the traditional values and customs of the English people, particularly those of rural and small-town England.
History
The magazine was started in 1968 by Roy Faiers of LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, who held it as a private company (This England International Ltd.). Faiers remained editor-in-chief until 2009, when the company was bought by DC Thomson of Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, owners of the Sunday Post, Beano
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
, Dandy
The Dandy
The Dandy is a long running children's comic published in the United Kingdom by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. The first issue was printed in 1937 and it is the world's third longest running comic, after Detective Comics and Il Giornalino...
and other publications. Faiers was succeeded as editor by his former deputy editor, Stephen Garnett. Now based in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, This England has a circulation of 100,000.
The name This England comes from the declamations of John of Gaunt in Act II, Scene I of Shakespeare's
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
King Richard II
Richard II (play)
King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's...
: "This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle... This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England."
Content
This England has always editorially described itself as a publication with an emphasis on Christian reactionary values. It has sometimes been better known, however, as a voice of political activism. For most of its years the magazine featured a strong pro-British, anti-EuropeanEuroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
editorial outlook. It showcased articles against the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and related topics like metrication. In the 1990s, it lent its support to New Britain
New Britain Party
New Britain was a minor British right wing political party founded by Dennis Delderfield in 1976. The party was de-registered in November 2008.-Founding:...
, a right-wing political group, praising it as "the organisation which is campaigning for a complete revival of our country".
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Dickson Paxman is a British journalist, author and television presenter. He has worked for the BBC since 1977. He is noted for a forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians...
remarked that the magazine's greatest enemy was "the march of time", claiming that "not one article in the magazine looks forward to the future".
Since 2009, the new owners have subdued the magazine's political content without letting it disappear entirely: the magazine still offers for sale the traditional navy blue British passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
covers, made to completely sheathe the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
covers, as well as British flag stickers designed to replace EU flags on driving licenses and the disabled "blue badges".
The magazine's non-political content continues to remain focused on English cultural history and lore
Culture of England
The culture of England refers to the idiosyncratic cultural norms of England and the English people. Because of England's dominant position within the United Kingdom in terms of population, English culture is often difficult to differentiate from the culture of the United Kingdom as a whole...
, chiefly from the period of about 1930-1960.
The magazine started with the slogan "As refreshing as a cup of tea!" Later issues described themselves as "For all those who love this green and pleasant land", and "Britain's loveliest magazine since 1968".
This England has a sister publication, Evergreen, which features less national content and concentrates on village life. Another companion publication, Beautiful Britain, was launched in 2006, aimed at a younger audience.