Dreams of Leaving and Remaining: Fragments of a Nation

Meek's documentary, Dreams of Leaving and Remaining, explores Britain's struggle to find its place and identity in the world after the 2008 financial crash. He meets farmers and fishermen who want Britain to turn its back on the world and restore its former glory, reports on the Cadbury's factory shut down and moved to Poland, and charts how the NHS is coping with austerity and an ageing population. He asks what we can recover from the debris of an old nation and what we must leave behind, creating a masterly portrait of an anxious, troubled nation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2021
Publisher: Verso Books

In his captivating book, Dreams of Leaving and Remaining, award-winning journalist Meek delves into a nation grappling with its own identity. Since the decline of the empire, Britain has been in a state of flux, struggling to establish its place and significance in the global landscape. This crisis reached a critical point following the 2008 financial crash. Meek embarks on a profound exploration, meeting individuals who yearn for Britain to retreat from the world and reclaim its former glory, even at the cost of undermining the very support that sustains their industries. He sheds light on the impending closure of a Cadbury's factory, which will be relocated to Poland under the guise of free market economics, examining the devastating impact on the local community left behind. He also charts the challenges faced by the NHS, grappling with the dual pressures of austerity measures and an aging population.

Throughout his journey, Meek poses thought-provoking questions about our ability to recover from the remnants of an old nation as we embark on new horizons. He challenges us to reevaluate the narratives we construct about our identity, a nation that feels disconnected from itself. Meek's work does not offer simple solutions, but rather presents a masterful portrayal of an anxious, troubled nation. He urges us to reconsider the power of the stories we tell ourselves, recognizing the need to bridge the divide within ourselves and forge a stronger sense of unity and purpose.

Weight: 200g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788737753