The Britannias

For most of us, the name Britain or Britannia conjures up a map of the main countries within this archipelago: England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. But in this book, author Albinia places many of the smaller islands at the forefront, from the northernmost outpost of Shetland to the southern isles of Scilly, revealing how the islands served as centers of progress and development well before the mainland. Her travels to many of these islands, large and small, include a historical overview of the role of those islands in Britain's history and mythology, beginning with the Viking raiders who settled and became Lords of the Isles and bringing the reader to the recent (and somewhat hushed-up) history of Nazi occupation of Alderney and Jersey as well as of the long-time tax haven on the Isle of Man. She also points out the ways that women influenced the development of these islands, whether in leading society or armies (hello, Boudica), in mythological or divine guidance, or in upholding traditions in danger of being lost.

Each chapter is a richly drawn portrait of a single island or group of islands with a shared history and location, including "islands" that no longer appear to be islands (Thanet and Westminster), and Albinia captures both the romance and the reality of each of these places, adding tidbits of her personal story related to her visits. I confess that reading the book took me much longer than my usual speed because I spent so much time swiping between the book and Google Maps to zoom in on each island and explore it with her. An immersive read for armchair travelers as well as those who have traveled the British Isles extensively. 4 stars.

Thank you, W. W. Norton and Company and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.