The blurb of The North Will Rise Again states that Alex Niven “examines an area of the country at the forefront of current debates about identity, inequality and industry,” in the hope of finding “the visionary, fantastical future of the North”. By my reckoning, this book fails in both areas.

Like many modern works surrounding regional identity, The North Will Rise Again is not really any one thing. Part memoir, part literary analysis, part cultural history and part pop-sociology text, the book swerves from one topic to another. While some aspects of the book – particularly those exploring Niven’s favourite literary and musical artefacts – are well written and researched, much of it feels like a nostalgia trip for a time Niven himself didn’t live in and much of the historical information could easily be found, better written, elsewhere. 

As I say, Niven’s artistic analysis is strong, and if you’d like to read about his life (including his brief stint in iconic indie band Everything Everything) and get some recommendations for intriguing art from the region, this book may be for you. If you’re looking for a groundbreaking text on cultural complexities and future perspectives in northern England, I may suggest looking elsewhere.