Rainbow nation

Britain is a nation in flux. A country that manages to be both profoundly traditional and intensely modern. That reveres its history but is also uncomfortable with portions of its past. A magnet to immigrants, London has become Europe’s New York, taking in the tired, poor (and not-so-poor) masses in search of a better life.

These recent changes have sparked endless conversations about what it means to be British and how the country can welcome people from all over the world while maintaining a cohesive national identity.

The Portraits of Britain photo book series, which began in 2018, is an important part of these discussions. The latest incarnation (the fifth) has a selection of intimate portraits that say much about the state of the nation.

These include a man wearing an Elizabethan-style ruff made from plastic, an MP with her baby son in parliament, and a Zimbabwean environmental activist looking chic in a studied portrait. All British life is here.

As the publisher says: “These honest portraits offer an alternative view of our shared identity, an eclectic celebration of Britishness and an uplifting account of the triumphs and struggles of the people who inhabit these isles.”

And while the British may often seem at odds with each other (especially on social media), this collection shows that, for the most part, the majority of people rub along nicely: no matter where they’re from.