Random Historical Moments

Englishness: the Ultimate Answer

The complaints of foreigners in London, especially the French, are appalling. They say that they can't make friends; that, the longer they stay, the fewer friends they have; and that their compliments are received as insults. Kinski, the Broglies, La Vilette, who in Paris used to call Lord Essex her son, distribute little remedies to everybody and ask every woman for news about her health: these people want the English to be the same as themselves. How could the English like foreigners when they don't even like each other? How could one invite them to dinner when they don't even invite each other? 'But one visits a country in order to be liked and respected there.' That doesn't necessarily happen: in that case, one has to do as they do; live for oneself, as they do; and not care about anybody, like anybody or count on anybody. In the end, one has to take each country as it is: when I am in France, I am friendly with everybody; in England, I am not friendly with anybody; in Italy, I flatter everybody; in Germany, I drink with everybody.

They say: In England, no-one ever gives me a friendly word. But is it necessary to give you a friendly word?

posted by Brituncula @ 12:23 PM