England may be a small country on a small isl&, but its inhabitants have always had a boundless curiosity about the world beyond their shoreline. From the nation`s modern origins in the Renaissance, travellers have eagerly roamed the globe & been enticed by the diversity & richness of other civilizations. & while this appetite for adventure has often been tainted by aggression or exploitation, the English have also carried within them a capacity to soak up new experiences & ideas & to weave them into every aspect of life back home, from language & literature to customs & culture. Here we trace this golden thread of otherness through five centuries of English history to reveal how it has shaped the buildings, flavoured the food, powered the economy, & created a truly diverse society. Today, when England is no longer synonymous with Britain & the English ask themselves who they are, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown paints a sumptuous & illuminating portrait of who they have been & brings a fresh, invigorating perspective on what ` Englishness` really means.