| | |
The Xenophobe's Guide to the Austrians by Louis James A guide to understanding the Austrians that delves into the cultural
curiosities and peculiar characteristics of this land-locked nation.
| We cannot be moved | | The Austrian needs lots of persuading to have his traditions tampered
with in the name of modernisation and efficiency. He is attached to his sausage,
his insipid beer, and the young white wine that tastes so remarkably like iron
filings. He prefers the familiar, tried and tested to the novelty, the latter
almost certainly being an attempt by persons unknown to make money at his expense. |
| Kitschy, kitschy, koo | | Home life for the Austrians is a never-ending quest for Gemütlichkeit
or cosiness, which is achieved by accumulating objects that run the gamut from
the pleasingly aesthetic to the mind-blowingly kitsch. |
| Austrian autonomy | | In Austria detonating pretension is a national pastime. It has to do
with attitudes to power that date back to an absolutist form of government and
with the self-irony developed by people who were (or thought they were) more talented
than the authority to which they had to defer. |
| A grave issue | | The paradoxical character of the Austrian mingles profoundly conservative
attitudes with a flair for innovation and invention. This creative tension usually
takes the form of official obstructionism to good ideas, but sometimes the other
way round. For example, the population were outraged by Josef II's attempt to
make them adopt reusable coffins with flaps on the underside for dropping out
the corpses. (The Emperor was forced to retreat, grumbling as he did so about
the people's wasteful attitude.) |
| A good little
book, providing a quick traveler's introduction to the Austrians. It is written
with a pervasive sense of humor, and offers insights into local custom and character.
It is not a substitute for either a true guide book or for a good history (both
of which we would strongly urge one to have). Read this first, then consult the
travel guide books and read The Austrians. |
| Newport, OR, USA |
| An enlightened
new series, good natured, witty and useful. The Xenophobe's Guides to different
nations deserves a real cheer. | | The European |
|
Light-hearted guides well worth reading before you visit any of the countries
or, if you have relatives that hail from those parts of the world, they can explain
a lot. | | Burton Mail |
Nationalism
and Identity
Character
Attitudes and Values
Happy Families
Manners
and Behaviour
Leisure and Pleasure
Drinking and Eating
Custom and
Tradition
Sense of Humour
Culture
Systems
Culture
Systems
Business and Commerce
Government
Language | |
|
| Author: Louis James |
| Format: 96
pages, pb |
| Published: 01/02/10 |
| Updated: New edition |
| Price: £4.99 |
| ISBN: 978-1-906042-21-9 |
|
