
A witty, sharply observed critique, this collection turns the Englishman's self‑conception into both subject and satire. Opening with a grandiose portrait of national arrogance, the author peels back layers of complacency, humorously exposing how pride and obliviousness intertwine in everyday life. The prose balances lively irony with a keen eye for the cultural quirks that define a nation’s identity.
From the polished sportsman to the bustling businessman, the diligent journalist to the stoic soldier, each essay sketches a familiar figure and then nudges the listener to see the absurdities beneath the façade. The range—politics, law, education, even the simple pleasures of food and drink—offers a panoramic, yet intimate, portrait of early‑20th‑century England. Listeners will find the observations both entertaining and surprisingly resonant, inviting reflection on the lasting stereotypes that still shape how we view ourselves and others.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (201K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2018-01-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1865–1924
Known for sharp-edged satire and a gift for stirring argument, this English writer built a reputation as both poet and polemicist. His work captures the restless, combative energy of literary London around the turn of the twentieth century.
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