I Fought The Law -Dan Kiernan

Hello,
I have just finished reading 'I Fought The Law' By Dan Kiernan. If I may be critical it's a little bit ill-focused. Although I can see the point he was driving at he could have shown the links between his various bugbears a little better. Still there's nowt wrong in filling in the blanks and the book is a very much a personal one. It won't plough new furrows in your brain or turn the way you see the world on it's head but it's entertaining, frighteningly spot on in places -though perhaps a little hastily researched. If you've a few hours spare then treat yourself.

The book was initially conceived as a humorous look at all those absurd old laws that remain with us, though are not used that prohibit shooting Welshman before midnight and so on. However horrified by some of the governments new laws in particular the whole Parliament Sq business he decided to focus on the present.

The author regards protest as very much part of the English identity. A fascinating theme I would have loved him to expand more than he does on. He argues that far from being a stiff upper lipped nation of Hugh Grants the English are bolshy, awkward beer swillers with a hatred of injustice. I felt he weakened this by trying to be inclusive and tacking it onto Britishness. For heaven s sake boy you're English and proud just sodding say so without making excuses. There were almost two books waiting to be written one on his vision of 'Albion' and the other on Britain as a whole. I do hope the author regards this book as an introduction an expands on both in turn.

I very much get the impression that he's on a mini-cruise of reassessment of his views and his national pride. Bon voyage Dan and do send postcards!