AN expat writer has published a new poetry book on identity and nationalism in England while living abroad from his base in Madrid.
Poet Alan McGuire has attempted to capture the complicated reality of modern England in his latest poetry collection, which he has dubbed Our England.
Having lived in Madrid for the past 10 years with his wife, McGuire has spent much of his time reflecting on how both British and Spanish culture.
“For Brits, there are often two versions of Spain,” McGuire explained in an interview with The Olive Press.
“It’s either the romanticised retirement dream of sunshine and lemon trees, or the Costa del Sol version where Brits become more English in Spain than they ever were in the UK.”
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He argues that cities like Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid reveal a far more nuanced middle ground that is often ignored.
In one of his latest poems called Hotline, McGuire hints at a common judgment about traveling to Spain:
“I’m sorry to hear
there were too many
Spaniards
on your trip to Spain.
We appreciate
you won’t be flying
with us again.
McGuire’s previous poetry collection, Last Days of Alicante, focused on Spain’s contested historical memory and the idea that ‘the winners always publish history,’ exploring the country’s democratic memory and political tensions.
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By contrast, Our England is rooted in lived experience and conversations with ordinary people navigating a country wrestling with nationalism, migration and identity.
Another poem titled RNLI touches on the complexities of migration in England:
“Into the sea.
To whoever needs saving,
whoever the tide has eaten
no passports taken
no questions asked.
Into the sea (x3)
If I were drowning
would you save me?
Ghosts have no skin colour
or nationality.
We go
into the sea.”
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The book was inspired by the poet’s trips back to England over the years, but specifically during the 2025 ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ movement.
On a trip last August, McGuire searched his home country to find a campaign led by far-right groups, in which the St George’s Cross and Union Jack flags were hung up around the nation.
McGuire found that the turning point was when he witnessed British flags dominating public spaces, particularly during protests outside hotels that were housing migrants.
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“It felt like watching your dad get divorced in his 50s,” McGuire said. “It was absurd, but also deeply sad.”
This wasn’t his first experience with seeing over-the-top nationalism.
McGuire was a firsthand observer of the Catalan independence crisis, when he was struck by how quickly anti-Catalan sentiment became socially acceptable.
“It was a scary experience, I hadn’t seen anything like it, outside the level of nationalism held during events like the World Cup,” McGuire told this newspaper.
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He called back on the times of COVID when people even wore masks with Spanish flags on them to make a point, something he called more comical than concerning.
With his newest book release, McGuire says it is not necessarily an argument against patriotism, but a reflection of England as it currently stands.
“It’s not about judging stereotypes,” he assured. “People and countries are more complicated than that.”
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When questioned about Pedro Sanchez’s recent migration regularisation efforts, McGuire called them ‘brilliant’ both in terms of economics and moral standing.
More of McGuire’s thoughts on Spanish society and politics can be heard on his podcast, The Sobremesa.
His book has been published by the UK-based artist co-op, Culture Matters, which can be purchased on their website now.
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