This work investigates how the perception of English national identity shifted from a reputation of instability and fanaticism to one of imperial and industrial dominance between 1650 and 1850. Paul B. Langford, a noted historian of eighteenth-century Britain, utilizes a vast array of primary source accounts from foreign travelers and observers to construct his argument. By analyzing these external perspectives, he demonstrates how the English self-image was constructed and modified in response to internal political evolution and external geopolitical pressures.

Historians frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the development of English national identity during the early modern period. Scholars often highlight the author's meticulous use of foreign accounts to provide an objective mirror for English self-perception.