Title: Germania : in wayward pursuit of the Germans and their history /
Authors: Winder, Simon
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
Year: 2010
Subjects: National characteristics, German.; Germany Civilization.
Abstract: "Germania" explores how people are misled by history, how they twist history, and how sometimes it is best to know no history at all. The work is full of curiosities, odd food, castles, mad princes, and fairy tales--the unseen sides of Germany.
Contents: 'Bound with chains of flowers' -- A note on Germany and German -- Chapter One -- From the land of gloomy forests -- Roman Germans -- An alligator far from home -- I'll have some green sauce with that -- The medieval car park -- Chapter Two -- Ancient palaces -- Charles the Great -- Pious, Bald or Fat -- A very small town -- Spreading the Word -- In search of a bit of sunshine -- Thrust to the east -- Chapter Three -- Walled towns -- Other superiority complexes -- A brief note on political structures -- German tribes -- Famine and plague -- Where a million diamonds shine -- Chapter Four -- The tideless sea -- The curse of Burgundy -- Happy families -- Rampant folk costume -- Imperial circles -- Habsburgs -- Chapter Five -- Spires, turrets and towers -- A birthplace and a death-house -- The devil's bagpipes -- The ruler of the world -- The New Jerusalem -- An unhappy wine merchant -- Chapter Six -- The Golden City of the Faithful -- The land where lemon blossom grows --^