Book description
Many of the traditions which we think of as very ancient in their origins were not in fact sanctioned by long usage over the centuries, but were invented comparatively recently. This book explores examples of this process of invention - the creation of Welsh and Scottish 'national culture'; the elaborationā¦
Why read it?
1 author picked The Invention of Tradition as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This collection of essays offers a broad set of different examples of history and ideas about the past have been pressed into the service of nationalism ā often resulting, as the title has it, in the invention of tradition.
I also love the quality of the writing in this book. Hobsbawm has such elegant prose, and as an editor he seems to have influenced the style of the other authors in the volume.Ā
From NaoĆse's list on The best books about why the past matters for the future.
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