Reading A History Of Your Own Country Written By A Foreigner.

Started by mongers, January 31, 2012, 04:01:30 PM

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mongers

January 31, 2012, 04:01:30 PM Last Edit: February 11, 2012, 10:10:43 AM by mongers
I have a theory that reading a general history of your own country written by a foreigner, not an immigrant or at someone not assimilated into your culture and preferable not in your own native language, would have some beneficial effects in counteracting some national myths and stereotypes one might have been brought up with or absorbed from more conservatively written national histories. 

I say general histories, because I think volumes on specific smaller time periods and themes benefit from their specialism and I suspect somewhat diminish the 'nationalistic' element in authorship.

I got this idea when reading those historical atlases as a child and it was noticeable, because they were written by Germans, that the perspective was clearly not Anglo-centric, which I liked.

So what suggestions do people have for a general history of England and/or Britain and your own countries ?

And for that matter which other countries and histories do you suggest ?
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again"

The Brain

#1
January 31, 2012, 04:08:38 PM
One of the major problems with history as it is being done today is the insistence on not using a single language. It is retarded.

I haven't read that many general historíes of Sweden written by foreigners.

The best book on the Great Northern War is written by a Brit (I think). But then Swedish historians weigh in at around 60-70 so no surprise there.
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Valmy

#2
January 31, 2012, 04:26:10 PM
Um...are there British or Aussies or whatever writing histories of the US?  I did see some written by French historians in French while I was there.  I enjoyed reading about the Battle of Gettysburg written by a French dude for French readers, for example.  But that obviously exists because there is a demand for that sort of thing by the Froggie history buff.
Quote"This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed & unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you'll be bombed."

Zmiinyi defenders: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."

Barrister

#3
January 31, 2012, 04:34:28 PM
I have trouble imagining there are a whole lot of Canadian history books written by non-Canadians...
Posts here are my own private opinions.  I do not speak for my employer.

Admiral Yi

#4
January 31, 2012, 04:38:02 PM
Battlefields of North America by John Keegan is sort of on topic.  Wasn't really blown away by any of his perspectives.

If anything I think he has a tendancy to be a little gushy about the US.

mongers

#5
January 31, 2012, 04:41:12 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 31, 2012, 04:38:02 PM
Battlefields of North America by John Keegan is sort of on topic.  Wasn't really blown away by any of his perspectives.

If anything I think he has a tendancy to be a little gushy about the US.

Yes, I think this tendancy can work both ways, compounded as it is by a common language and much shared history. 
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again"

Viking

#6
January 31, 2012, 04:47:50 PM
I think Norway is lacking in a foreigners perspective on it's history. Norway is pretty smug in general.
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

Valmy

#7
January 31, 2012, 04:49:06 PM
Quote from: Viking on January 31, 2012, 04:47:50 PM
I think Norway is lacking in a foreigners perspective on it's history. Norway is pretty smug in general.

Wouldn't Danes write lots about Norwegian History?  I mean it is shared history for many centuries.
Quote"This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed & unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you'll be bombed."

Zmiinyi defenders: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."

Martinus

#8
January 31, 2012, 05:05:11 PM
Norman Davies' "God's Playground" is a very good history of Poland. He also wrote a number of other books about specific periods/events in Polish history. His wife is Polish and he speaks Polish but I wouldn't call him assimilated.

Viking

#9
January 31, 2012, 05:20:28 PM
Quote from: Valmy on January 31, 2012, 04:49:06 PM
Quote from: Viking on January 31, 2012, 04:47:50 PM
I think Norway is lacking in a foreigners perspective on it's history. Norway is pretty smug in general.

Wouldn't Danes write lots about Norwegian History?  I mean it is shared history for many centuries.

Historically only Icelanders write about Norwegian History, but we haven't been able to afford parchment or writing utensils since 1262 AD. 
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

Josephus

#10
January 31, 2012, 05:21:00 PM
Is anyone outside your "county" a foreigner? :hmm:
Civis Romanus Sum

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world." Jack Layton 1950-2011

Razgovory

#11
January 31, 2012, 05:25:57 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 31, 2012, 04:38:02 PM
Battlefields of North America by John Keegan is sort of on topic.  Wasn't really blown away by any of his perspectives.

If anything I think he has a tendancy to be a little gushy about the US.

The Brits tend to be either gushy about the US or insufferably smug.
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

Admiral Yi

#12
January 31, 2012, 05:27:01 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 31, 2012, 05:25:57 PM
The Brits tend to be either gushy about the US or insufferably smug.

Off the top of my head I can't think of another one I would consider gushy.  Who did you have in mind?

Razgovory

#13
January 31, 2012, 05:28:48 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 31, 2012, 05:27:01 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 31, 2012, 05:25:57 PM
The Brits tend to be either gushy about the US or insufferably smug.

Off the top of my head I can't think of another one I would consider gushy.  Who did you have in mind?

Late life Hitchens, and nearly any Brit with a hatred of the Monarchy.
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

Sheilbh

#14
January 31, 2012, 05:39:47 PM
I've not read any I don't think.  I did watch Schama's History of Britain though.

Some friends watched England v Slovenia with him. So desperately jealous :(
Let's bomb Russia!
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