View source for The Isle of Man: Portrait of a Nation by John Grimson

{{infobox1 
|title= The Isle of Man: Portrait of a Nation
|author= John Grimson
|reviewer= John Van der Kiste
|genre=History 
|summary= A full, generously illustrated history and geography of the Isle of Man from the prehistoric era to the present day, including sections on trade, recreation, culture and tradition, and vivid descriptions of each area.
|rating=5 
|buy= Yes
|borrow= Yes
|pages=544 
|publisher= Robert Hale Ltd
|date= November 2009
|isbn=978-0709081036  
|sort= Isle of Man: Portrait of a Nation
|cover=0709090021
|aznuk=0709090021
|aznus=0709081030
}}

To many of us, the Isle of Man is probably best known for the Tynwald, the annual TT motorcycle races, and as a holiday resort.  I must admit that my knowledge of it extended little further than that, and therefore found this book invaluable.  In these 550 pages, profusely illustrated with photographs and maps, I imagine that few if any questions on the subject are left unanswered.  John Grimson has lived there for nearly forty years, and as well as working with several of the island's local authorities, was active as a long-distance runner and cyclist until his early seventies.

The book is divided into two parts.  In the first the author describes the history of the island, beginning with the pre-history period, the Viking raids and settlements from the eighth to the thirteenth centuries, and the evolution of a system of parliamentary government under Tynwald, founded in 979 AD and believed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, and its connections with England during the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War.  The story is completed with a look at the present day, with its constitution and governance, reputation and status as an international offshore financial centre for banking and commerce, and as an internally self-governing dependency of the British crown.  In passing, we might note that the electoral franchise was extended to women (admittedly not all women) in 1881, some years before mainland Britain caught up.

An early chapter on the shaping of the island describes the animals and birds to be found.  There follow sections on trade, agriculture, fishing, mining and other industry and commerce, particularly the rise, fall and rise again of the tourist industry, sea and air links, sport, especially motor racing, and recreation; and people, culture and tradition, covering such disparate topics as witchcraft, superstition, music and theatre.

As a historian who previously knew almost nothing of the island's chronology, I found all this fascinating.  This review is obviously not the space for a potted history, but the author tells us in detail about such milestones as the cession of the isle by the King of Norway to Scotland in 1266, its transfer to English control in the next century, and its crown dependency status confirmed in 1765.  Perhaps the most interesting chapters, for me at least, were those which described developments during and between the First and Second World Wars, with increased taxation and discontent against the hapless governor Lord Raglan, an unwavering conservative, who came to take up his appointment in 1902 and soon found himself on a collision course with the liberals.  Equally interesting is the account of events during the war against Hitler, with the setting up of internment camps for citizens of the enemy powers and the contribution some of them were able to make to the island, notably the German-born professor and archaeologist Dr Gerhard Bersu and his wife.

In the second part of the book the author describes each of the island's regions in detail, in effect taking us on a walking tour in words of the historic towns, villages, parishes and rural areas.  Castletown, we read, was the centre of the island's administration until the mid-19th century, and it has never forgiven Douglas for apparently usurping its role as the capital, while the harbour town of Peel is one of those select few centres of habitation which preserve the old medieval pattern of Manx townscape.  The photographs of churches, archaeological sites, sunny seaside ports and woodland areas certainly make it look a very inviting place to visit.

The text is complemented by three appendices, one of Manx place-names and one of kings, lords and governors of Man from 1079 to the present, and one of Bishops of Man.  It is an extremely readable volume, yet superbly presented as a work of reference on the subject which is unlikely to be surpassed for some time.

Our thanks to Robert Hale for sending Bookbag a review copy.

If you enjoy this, you might also enjoy [[How to Research Local History by Pamela Brooks]].

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