The Britannias: An Island Quest

The Britannias is a book that explores the story of Britain's islands and how they are woven into its collective cultural psyche. It traverses borders, languages, and genres, trespassing through the past to understand the present, and pays homage to the islands' beauty, independence, and suppressed or forgotten histories.

Format: Hardback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR




A dazzlingly brilliant book, Hannah Dawson's Albinia is a captivating and often exhilarating journey through the islands of Britain. As an intrepid and imaginative guide, Albinia takes readers on a sweeping exploration of the country's island topography, from the Neolithic Orkney to the modern-day Thanet. Through her travels, Albinia delves into the farthest reaches of Britain's island landscape, once known as Britanniae, as she traverses borders, languages, and genres. She trespasses through the past to understand the present, challenging established narratives and highlighting neglected epics and subversive voices.


The ancient mythology of islands ruled by women weaves its way through the literature of the British Isles, spanning from Roman colonial-era reports to early Irish poetry, Renaissance drama, and Restoration utopias. This mythology transcends and subverts the most male-fixated of ages, offering a rich tapestry of narratives that challenge traditional gender roles and power structures.


While The Britannias looks far back into the past for direction and solace, it also seeks to uncover new meanings about women's status in the body politic. By boldly upturning established truths about Britain, the book pays homage to the islands' beauty, independence, and their suppressed or forgotten histories. Through her captivating storytelling, Albinia invites readers to reimagine the nation's islands and their place in the collective cultural psyche.


Albinia is a remarkable achievement that showcases Hannah Dawson's talent as a writer and explorer. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Britain's islands, history, and culture, and it offers a fresh perspective on the nation's past and present.

Weight: 880g
Dimension: 166 x 242 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241669631