Description
Book SynopsisFirst scholarly study devoted to Guernsey in the nineteenth century, as it changed from a francophone to an anglophone society. In the early nineteenth century, despite 600 years of allegiance to the English Crown, a majority of Guernseymen still spoke a Franco-Norman dialect and retained cultural affinities with France. By the eve of World War I, however,insular society had turned predominantly anglophone and was culturally orientated towards England. In examining this sea-change, the author focuses particularly on the role of migration, since the Island experienced both substantial outflows [to North America and the Antipodes], and substantial inflows [from Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Hampshire and Cornwall; the Irish province of Munster, and the French départements of La Manche and Les Côtes-du-Nord]. The author investigates push- and pull-factors influencing the various migrant cohorts, and evaluates the reception they met from the insular authorities and population at large. Whilst showing that both British and Frenchmigrants, in their different ways, advanced the process of anglicisation, she sets their contribution in its proper perspective against the host of less tangible forces which had first initiated anglicisation and were hastening it on irrespective of the migrant presence.
Trade Review[The author's] narrative is grounded in a thorough analysis, deep understanding and astute presentation of the most relevant demographic sources. [.] A fascinating and well-researched account of the economic and demographic development of Guernsey. [.] I would heartily recommend Crossnan's book to all historians interested in migration, mapping, the use of census data, economic and cultural change and British history in general. * LOCAL POPULATION STUDIES *
An extremely well-researched and neatly written account of Guernsey's population and migration movements in this transition period.[...]A splendid volume. * RURAL HISTORY *
Anyone who aspires to a thorough understanding of nineteenth century Guernsey, let alone and understanding of the major upheaval which unleashed forces to bear in the twentieth century must read this book. * TRANSACTIONS OF LA SOCIéTé GUENESIAISE 26 *
[An] impressive volume. [.] This is local history as it should be written. * THE LOCAL HISTORIAN *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Constitution and Government Economy Population and Migration Origins, Distribution and Composition of the Immigrant Cohort English and Irish Immigration Immigration from and via other Channel Islands French Immigration Legal Status and Administrative Treatment of Strangers Migrant-Native Interactions (1): Social and Political Migrant-Native Interactions (2): Personal and Individual Changing Identities Conclusion
