Northerners: A History, from the Ice Age to the Present Day, by Brian Groom, published by HarperCollins (Image: HarperCollins) But behind the success story lay the misery of city slums, short, unhappy lives, a reliance on slave-trade cotton, the fruits of imperial expansion and armed trade – dubbed “war capitalism.” And the spectacular Victorian boom didn’t last. By 1900, Britain had been overtaken by the USA. In those days, England was divided into Britannia Inferior and Britannia Superior. Guess which was the North? Right first time, and nothing much has changed. Writer Brian Groom seeks to do just that in Northerners: A History, a definitive new chronicle of the region, the first to appear this century.

That being said, I wish Groom had gone into a little more detail in places. This study could never go into too much depth, but I felt the absence of some chapters. In particular, since my research involves crime, Groom says nothing about the Moors Murders or the Yorkshire Ripper, significant parts of the North's history, whether it likes it or not. This criticism is personal, however. The only other criticism I have is that there was some repeated information towards the end of the book. It would have been better if Groom only wrote new information instead of repeating points made in previous chapters. But they never achieved the political influence commensurate with their size, a situation that largely still holds true today. Northern Metro-Mayors have the trappings of power, but little real clout, as Manchester’s Andy Burnham found during the pandemic. Brian recounts the notorious visit by Bradford’s JB Priestley to Tyneside in autumn 1933 for his book English Journey. Dosed with medicine for a heavy cold and tired of travelling, Priestley described the Geordie accent as a “most barbarous, monotonous and irritating twang”. Gateshead, he added, was a town “carefully planned by an enemy of the human race”. Join us at this Lit & Phil Local event to celebrate the history and future of the north, and northernness! Author Brian Groom: It’s certainly evolving. Globalisation and the internet are weakening it, but I’d be astonished if it died out after all these centuries.

About the Author

Others saw something different. Novelist William Clark Russell wrote, after visiting the Tyne in the 1880s: “Who says there is no beauty nor poetry in coal and grime and smoke, in huddled tenements, high chimneys, and such things?” Much as many would love to wish the North-South divide away, this is no time to give up,” says Groom. “If there is to be a revival, it will depend on the talents, energy and enterprise of northerners. In 1913, Lancashire produced two-thirds of the world output of cotton cloth. By 1938, it was only 25%.

Delving into the human stories behind these northerners creates an emotional tale of loss and heroism throughout time, connecting readers with the past and their history.” Tynesiders and other North East folk have played a crucial role in shaping modern Britain, according to a major new book.

Romans

Thatcher claimed to have done so, asserting dogmatically after a trip to the region in 1989: “The north-south divide has gone.” Only, perhaps, in the sense that she tried to abolish the industrial north.

In 1831, more than half of England’s adult male industrial jobs were in Lancashire or West Yorkshire. If you do nothing, you will be auto-enrolled in our premium digital monthly subscription plan and retain complete access for 65 € per month.

Book Reviews

You may also opt to downgrade to Standard Digital, a robust journalistic offering that fulfils many user’s needs. Compare Standard and Premium Digital here. In 1988 he launched Scotland on Sunday, Scotsman Publications’ Sunday paper, as deputy editor and later became editor. It was voted UK Newspaper of the Year (Newspaper Industry Awards 1994) and UK Sunday Newspaper of the Year (Newspaper Industry Awards 1997).

In essence, Groom’s closing chapter is a call to action, highlighting the vital role that Northerners themselves must play in shaping their future rather than relying solely on the promises and rhetoric of politicians. Neither. They are just people. I dislike sweeping generalisations. Both contain wildly varying individuals, good and bad. Brian, originally from Stretford, Lancashire, is a former assistant editor of the Financial Times and editor of Scotland on Sunday. He will be talking about his book and Northern history at Newcastle Lit & Phil on Thursday, May 26. Northerners: A History from the Ice Age to the Present Day (litandphil.org.uk) I especially found the chapters on slavery/ cotton manufacturing and the women's movement really interesting as I had not been aware that the North part of England had played such an influential part, first in terms of commerce and then later in abolishing slavery both here and in America. And much of the change in women's equality, was pioneered by very strong Northern women. This authoritative new history of place and people lays out the dramatic events that created the north - waves of migration, invasions and battles, and transformative changes wrought on European culture and the global economy. In a sweeping narrative that takes us from the earliest times to the present day, the book shows that the people of the north have shaped Britain and the world in unexpected ways.

North/South Divide

Undertaking the research for ‘Northerners’ was a labour of love for Groom. Over several years, he delved deep into historical archives, exploring countless rabbit holes to uncover hidden gems and untold stories. What sets the book apart is the scale and geographical focus. Groom does an excellent job of bouncing around topics, and his skills really flourish in later chapters. When diving into a very particular aspect of the north's history, such as migration, leisure or even sheep farming, Groom's broad historical brush strokes pay off dividends. He gets to leap across centuries and pull together different parts of northern history which a narrower focus wouldn't allow. It makes for a fun read and is perfect for anybody wanting a neat overview of the region. It also embraces the scenery of the north, and Groom's accounts of Liverpool, the Pennines, Northumbria and Manchester are all very evocative. Northern England, fashioned by waves of migration, invasions and battles, has had a profound impact on European culture and the global economy. It was not just the Industrial Revolution, viewed by economic historians as the key event in human history – and in which Manchester played a globally decisive role. At least six Roman emperors ruled for a period from the north. And the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria was Europe’s leading cultural and intellectual centre. A copy of your data will be held by Loop Publishing Limited (the publishers of Northern Life Magazine) for up to 10 years. HarperNorth has landed "the defining biography of northern England" by former Financial Times journalist Brian Groom.