51³Ô¹Ï

I enjoyed David Cannadine's article on new perspectives in British history teaching (THES, November 24) but I was surprised to see him repeat the myth that this country is a "multi-racial society". Census statistics show that the overwhelming majority of people in Britain are of white Caucasian origin, a kind of north-west European mix. Only about 5 per cent are of African, Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin. Brazil is a multi-racial society and so is Nigeria but Britain is not.

M. N. Ashbee

Southlands Road, Bickley, Kent