A “typical” British family used to consist of mother, father and two children. But in recent years there have been many changes in family life. For example, since the law made it easier to get a divorce, the number of divorces has increased. That’s why 24% of British children live with only one parent, usually […]

All manner of general and esoteric societies, institutions, museums and foundations can be found in England. One of its more prestigious learned societies is the Royal Society (1660), which awards fellowships, medals and endowed lectureships based on scientific and technological achievements. The British Museum contains a wealth of archaeological and ethnographic specimens. Its extensive library […]

There are many museums in London. One of them is the Tate Gallery in Millmank, which presents modern masters of England and France. There are some fine examples of modern sculpture. Its collection of French Impressionists is marvellous. There is the Victoria and Albert Museum in Brompton Road. It has an outstanding collection of the applied […]

Great Britain gave the world a lot of talented people. Many famous writers and poets were born and lived in Great Britain. One of the best known English playwrights was William Shakespeare. He draw ideas for his tragedies and comedies from the history of England and ancient Rome. Many experts consider Shakespeare the greatest writer […]

There was little pictorial art in England until the great miniaturists of the Tudor epoch. There were portraits on a large scale, but they were in the main, of foreign origin, notably Dutch like Holbein. Then came Hogarth, the first great native painter born at the end of the 17th century, famous for both engravings […]

England’s  Elizabethan  Theatre  developed  rapidly  during  the  trium­phant  years  following  the  defeat  of  the  Spanish  Armada.  For  some  time,  troupes  of  professional  players  had  toured  the  country.  There  was  also  amateur  performing  of  Moralities  and  knockabout  folk-entertainment.  The  professional  actor-managers-including  Shakespeare-who  eventually  built  and  ran  the  London  playhouses,  still  looked  to  the  Court  and  impor­tant  […]

I could  venture  to  say,  above,  that  in  some  respects  we  are  the  most  dramatic  people  left  on  earth,  because  I  realise  only  too  well  how  many  ob­stacles  our  Theatre  is  compelled  to  face.  Only  a  people  with  a  deep  instinc­tive  feeling  for  dramatic  art  would  be  inclined  to  challenge  such  obstacles.  As  individuals  we  […]

Our  modern  English  drama  is  not  a  mushroom  growth,  like  the  cinema.  Its  roots  stretch  back  into  the  past,  and  often  the  process  of  its  development  is  plain  enough  to  trace.  The  play  of  ideas,  for  example,  with  its  insistence  on  intellectual  and  psychological  battles,  as  opposed  to  the  drama  of  clashing  swords  and  the  […]

 Every  year  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  William  Shake­speare  is  celebrated  with  joyous  ceremony  at  Stratford-upon-  Avon,  the  Warwickshire  market-town  where  he  was  born  on  April  23d,  1564.  Flags  are  unfurled  in  the  main  street,  people  buy  sprigs  of  rosemary  (“for  remembrance”)  to  wear  in  their  buttonholes,  the  Town  Beadle  heads  a  long  procession  […]

The  Main  Stages.  Traces  of  Past  Greatness.  What  the  British  Are  Proud  Of.  The  British  Council Artistic  and  cultural  life  in Britain  is  rather  rich.  It  passed  several  main  stages  in  its  development. The  Saxon  King  Alfred  encouraged  the  arts  and  culture.  The  chief  debt  owed  to  him  by  English  literature  is  for  his  translations  of  […]