Halfway through now, and it is hard to put down (except for those passages where the author does seem to take along time to get over dwelling on some particular (art) pieces to put in context). Having said that, the very same thing that makes it so intriguing and interesting, that is being able to explain context and add nuance before trying to draw a conclusion, can make it a challenge to get thru, at times. If you stick with it though the insight that's gained is uniquely valuable, and changes your view on history, if you had already formed some (for some reason, i.e. by roots, like me), forever. The most surprising aspect of reading though, when you're native, or somehow have a connection with the subject already (i.e. by birth, descent, etc.), is that many traits in the attitudes, culture are recognizable, as in still present today.
In other words; what Schama is giving us is a time travel that allows one to understand how the particulars of a people, country, culture, came into being, and in that way you learn about yourself (if applicable), or your friend, your colleague, your ancestry, etc., (fill in as applicable). Schama does presuppose a certain amount of historic knowledge though, by way of making references that will be totally lost on you if you don't possess that. And he's not filling in, nor repeating, all the historic conflicts, details, etc., (in all honesty, it would need to send me back to 'history class'); that's not what the book is about; it is focusing and refocusing on the general attitudes and popular sentiments that prevailed time and again in the Netherlands through the 17th century. Schama does so with his uncanny talent to portray times as if you live in them, to bring them back to life, with the help of detail, art, and his hard to match talent for story-telling.
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Top reviews from other countries
P. Mccann
interesting subject but reading is hard going
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2017Else Brit Rosli
The book was interesting, but difficult to read. ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2018
Elsa Griggs
I couldn’t lift this book to read so I gave to Oxfam.I would have liked to have read it.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2019Miss Lynn Mead
The Embarrassment of Riches
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2013R. Mountjoy
... more dense and detailed than I thought - but brilliant.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2016
