Julian Barnes is one of the brightest and most original prose writers of modern Britain, winner of the Booker Prize in 2011 for the novel “The Presentiment of the End”, author of such international bestsellers as “Arthur and George”, “Flaubert’s Parrot”, “History of the World in 10” 1/2 chapters”, “Love and so on”, “Metroland” and many others. Perhaps his main talent is the ability to easily and naturally play with styles and directions in his works. Subtle stylization and caustic irony, sophisticated lyricism and sarcasm bordering on cynicism, aggressive toughness and cheerful mischief - Barnes is capable of all this and much more. In the novel “England, England” - which, like many other books by Barnes, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize Prize, the author asks the question: what is this real England? The land of romantic legends about Robin Hood? A country that has long since outlived its purpose and has a purely ornamental monarchy? A country of two undeniable and eternal virtues - the Beatles and good beer? It is unknown how many angels can fit on the head of a needle, but it is known for certain that the whole of England can fit on the Isle of Wight. For it is on this island that everything that represents good old England, England, in the eyes of the whole world, gathers in a theme park...