Arturo Barone

The English... God bless 'em... Arturo Barone

The London-born author considers, with a critical eye, certain national traits and customs, at times with humour and always with affection; he also makes provocative suggestions as to why we behave as we do. More particularly he asks, and tries to answer, certain questions, such as: What is the English attitude to food?What do they think of feminism?Have they any view on whether the Empire was a good thing or not?Are the English eccentric?Are they racist?Are they hypocrites?Where is the country going?He also reviews the sexual and social consequences for the country of the so-called 'Swinging Sixties'. Topics are treated in comparatively short chapters, thus facilitating reference. The reader might be surprised by some of the conclusions reached - since not all the observations are flattering - and might well disagree with many of them. Despite the more obvious signs of an aging civilisation, the English do not emerge too badly in the overall picture.