The 'Last night of the Proms' in historical perspective

This article traces the history of the 'Last Night of the Proms', from the foundation of the Promenade Concerts in 1895, through the troubled early decades of the twentieth century and the subsequent commitment of the B.B.C., to its current iconic status. It examines the often contentious reception of this 'invented tradition' and its unique contribution to notions of Britishness, both at home and abroad.