How sixteen lines written by an obscure poet and painter two hundred years ago became England's national anthem.
How sixteen lines written by an obscure poet and painter two hundred years ago became England's national anthem.
Great britain, History & criticism, Popular culture
Jerusalem: The Story of a Song is a popular history of England's unofficial national anthem, which began life as a poem by William Blake, was set to music by Hubert Parry and is sung every year at the Last Night of the Proms.
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Eddie Lerner has written an excellent and detailed history of "Jerusalem" from its conception as part of a larger piece by Blake and its setting to music to its adoption years later by various bodies, up to the 2012 Olympic Games. His learning and background as a Blue Badge Guide add richness to the story. ~ June Marshall, Personal email to author
An amazing book which manages to include everything from the fate of Tom Paine's bones to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics... ~ David Boyle, author of 'Broke: Who Killed the Middle Classes?, Personal email to the author
