With its distinctive history of civil liberties and the delicate balance between social order and the free pursuit of self-interest, England has always fascinated its continental neighbours.
Buruma examines the history of ideas of Englishness and what Europeans have admired (or loathed) in England across the centuries. Voltaire wondered why British laws could not be transplanted into France, or even to Serbia; Karl Marx thought the English were too stupid to start a revolution; Goethe worshipped Shakespeare; and the Kaiser was convinced that Britain was run by Jews.
Combining the stories of European Anglophiles and Anglophobes with memories of his own Anglo-Dutch-German-Jewish family, this utterly original book illuminates the relationship between Britain and Europe, revealing how Englishness - and others' views of it - have shaped modern European history.
- All Fiction Ebooks
- All Fiction Audiobooks
- Sno-Isle Reads Together
- Science Fiction Firsts
- Mystery & Suspense Firsts
- Available Now
- Try a Light Novel
- Horror & Dark Fiction
- Rainbow Connections
- World War II Historical Fiction
- Cozy Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Faith & Felonies
- Biblical Romance
- See all
- All Nonfiction Ebooks
- All Nonfiction Audiobooks
- Available Now
- Pour Some Sugar On Me
- Last Call For Alcohol
- Transgender and Nonbinary Voices
- You Don't Need AI To Write
- Relationship Rx: Getting Along With the one I Love
- Coping With Stress & Anxiety
- When Someone Shows You Who They Are
- Travel Plans
- Knitting vs. Crochet: Crafting's Ultimate Duel!
- Common Ground: Community Connections Through Shared Experiences
- See all
