The Europeans
Polished, civilized variations on the theme of Europe's sadly incomplete unity. A portrait of the major nations of Western Europe, each with its own sacred egoism, all with what for Barzini is an exasperating durability of national traditions. A celebrated writer-journalist mixes anecdotes, apercus, and historical sketches and comes up with such charming observations as: "Wine is perhaps the essence of our continent." A bubbly book, with insufficient substance.

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