Rodney Barker is Emeritus Professor of Government at LSE and Emeritus Professor of Rhetoric at Gresham College

‘This book is original, unexpected, witty, erudite, yet uncannily topical. Reinvigorated by social media, issues of identity are among the most pressing of contemporary problems. Barker's book – covering clothes and theology, democratic theory and leaders, power and associations – is a vivid contribution to understanding what makes us what we are now.’Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History, University of Westminster'Rodney Barker shows that a theoretical investigation of identity need not be opaque and complicated. His analysis goes beyond economics and politics to include religion, language, music, satire, architecture, transportation and food, making a significant contribution to understanding “why plumage matters". A fascinating and erudite study.'Jonathan Mercer, Professor of Political Science, University of Washington

• 1 Introduction2 Plumage3 Cultivating identity 4 Top people are different: association and distinction in politics and religion5 Caps of liberty: the oddity of democracy6 Reformations, revolutions, continuity, and counter-reformations7 The plumage of Britannia8 ConclusionIndex

Rodney Barker is Emeritus Professor of Government at LSE and Emeritus Professor of Rhetoric at Gresham College

‘This book is original, unexpected, witty, erudite, yet uncannily topical. Reinvigorated by social media, issues of identity are among the most pressing of contemporary problems. Barker's book – covering clothes and theology, democratic theory and leaders, power and associations – is a vivid contribution to understanding what makes us what we are now.’Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History, University of Westminster'Rodney Barker shows that a theoretical investigation of identity need not be opaque and complicated. His analysis goes beyond economics and politics to include religion, language, music, satire, architecture, transportation and food, making a significant contribution to understanding “why plumage matters". A fascinating and erudite study.'Jonathan Mercer, Professor of Political Science, University of Washington

• 1 Introduction2 Plumage3 Cultivating identity 4 Top people are different: association and distinction in politics and religion5 Caps of liberty: the oddity of democracy6 Reformations, revolutions, continuity, and counter-reformations7 The plumage of Britannia8 ConclusionIndex

Rodney Barker is Emeritus Professor of Government at LSE and Emeritus Professor of Rhetoric at Gresham College

‘This book is original, unexpected, witty, erudite, yet uncannily topical. Reinvigorated by social media, issues of identity are among the most pressing of contemporary problems. Barker's book – covering clothes and theology, democratic theory and leaders, power and associations – is a vivid contribution to understanding what makes us what we are now.’Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History, University of Westminster'Rodney Barker shows that a theoretical investigation of identity need not be opaque and complicated. His analysis goes beyond economics and politics to include religion, language, music, satire, architecture, transportation and food, making a significant contribution to understanding “why plumage matters". A fascinating and erudite study.'Jonathan Mercer, Professor of Political Science, University of Washington

• 1 Introduction2 Plumage3 Cultivating identity 4 Top people are different: association and distinction in politics and religion5 Caps of liberty: the oddity of democracy6 Reformations, revolutions, continuity, and counter-reformations7 The plumage of Britannia8 ConclusionIndex