The Europeans

by Luigi Barzini

An examination of European culture and history and of the nations that must be the base of a unified Europe backs up the eminent scholar-journalist's call for a Europe with one will, one voice, and a unified foreign policy

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Classics, Cultural

267 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Luigi Barzini was an Italian journalist, writer and politician most famous for his 1964 book The Italians, delving deeply into the Italian national character and introducing many Anglo-Saxon readers to Italian life and culture.

Son of Luigi Barzini (1874-1947)

Reviews

[Lobstergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 1983 book, Italian journalist Barzini details why the major European nations would or wouldn't want to join a European union. The chapters are titled The Elusive Europeans, The Imperturbable British, The Mutable Germans, The Quarrelsome French, The Flexible Italians, The Careful Dutch, and The Baffling Americans.

Barzini is a good writer and we get amusing statements like "In the end I concluded there was no sure way to ascertain if an Englishman was intelligent or stupid." He's describing a vanished time, between the wars, and only circulating among the upper echelons and diplomats, so presumably observations such as these no longer pertain: "My first conclusion was that the English, like most Nordic people, were not sharp as a whole, and that the secret of their success surely was not exorbitant intelligence. Later I discovered that some of them were definitely intelligent and that a few were exceptionally so, more than the average Continental, but that it was practically impossible to separate the dull from the acute, the Sherlock Holmses from the Doctor Watsons, as they all behaved and spoke alike."

We also get this fascinating description of Hitler from 1934:

"I met the newly appointed chancellor at that time (I never saw him in person again). Adolf Hitler received a small group of foreign journalists, four or five of us, in the foyer of the Kroll Opera House, during a parliamentary meeting, among incongruous gilded furniture and red velvet draperies. The Reichstag had been destroyed by a famous fire and the deputies were sitting for the time being in the stalls and boxes of the theater. None of us, of course, could foresee that day how Hitler would end, where he would drag the world, our countries, and each of us, and how many million deaths he would cause. To men, then, he merely looked like an improbably funny burlesque character, a sinister clown, with his bang plastered diagonally across his forehead (he probably thought it gave him a Napoleonic air), a more preposterous and ridiculous man even than Mussolini and surely less human. Definitely, I thought, the new Reichskanzler did not have to be taken seriously. He did not look like the portraits of one of the great characters of history, not like Bismarck, Cavour, Gladstone, Clemenceau, or Wilson, men who had led their countries sometimes in the wrong direction but always with gravity and prudence and authority. He was, I concluded, too improbable to last; there was nothing to worry about. He would vanish shortly, as quickly as he had appeared from nowhere, dragged back behind the wings by the hook of history. His ideas were so outlandish, his programs so absurd, primitive, and barbaric, so unsuited for the twentieth century, that I believed he would not have the slightest chance to implement them, no more of a chance than Mussolini’s operatic attempt to reconstruct the Roman Empire.

Hitler was wearing the mustard-colored uniform of the S.A. with armband. I noticed his ill-fitting breeches entered his too-large boots with concertinalike folds. His mustache surprised me. It had a third dimension that was not apparent in photographs. It was thick and bristled horizontally forward, somewhat like the quills of a porcupine, almost as far as the tip of his nose. The nose was triangular, vaguely shaped like the hood of a fireplace. I was fascinated, above all, by his tearful eyes. I imagined the author of Mein Kampf, the leader of an army of thugs, the persecutor of the Jews (who were law-abiding, indispensable, and patriotic German citizens, many of them heroic soldiers in the previous war) should have had cold, dry eyes, set in the mask of a cruel Roman emperor, not watery eyes in the face of a postman. And why the tears? (Later that evening at dinner, I told an old friend, a good German journalist, I was bewildered by Hitler’s tear-filled eyes. I said he had the eyes of a bird-dog or a hound. My friend corrected me. “No. He has the eyes of an orphan.” Of course.)

When my turn came, Hitler shook my hand, held it for a while between his two, looked steadily at me, and delivered a short statement for my benefit. Very probably, I imagine, he was expressing admiration for Il Duce (and gratitude, too, for Il Duce had amply financed the Nazi party in the 1920s), admiration for his model, protector, and older brother. Sometimes I like to think he delivered to me personally a pregnant political proposal which, if relayed to the right persons, followed through, and made the basis for negotiations, could have prevented World War II. Whatever his short speech meant, it was wasted on me. I did not understand a word. I knew only enough German to read headlines, order meals, and persuade young ladies to sleep with me."

There are interesting historical nuggets, such as this admonishment about how the whims of America cause ripples around the globe: "Take the case of mahogany. It was for a very long time the symbol of bourgeois affluence and good taste. When it suddenly went out of fashion in the United States sixty or seventy years ago, prosperous and stable tropical countries that lived mainly on the export of that wood were ruined almost overnight. Rivers were blocked by masses of rotting tree trunks. Starving people rioted. Streets were strewn with corpses. Dictators took power. Foreign embassies bulged with political refugees."

[Marti Martinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant work, dated only because of what it lacks, not because of what it contains. The author is self-deprecating and self-effacing, never xenophobic nor hateful. His barbs are like a little kitten's teeth that bite playfully but never draw blood. The author died before the collapse of the USSR and Warsaw Pact, the division of Yugoslavia, the unification of Germany, the Euro currency, etc. Still, the eternal goodness and badness of the six peoples (Benelux, British, French, German, Italian, and American) is well captured, perhaps perfectly so. The Nordic and Baltic peoples weren't discussed but I cannot believe it was done to be dismissive of them. This is a Cold War book (NATO vs Warsaw Pact), and maybe the only reasonable one written: the style was delightful; the topic weighty.

[Szplug · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of years ago I was guided to this playfully intelligent and elegantly interpretive work of historical rumination that posits the cultural positioning (and, let's face it, predicament) of the Europeans and their premiership teams—consisting of the British, Italians, Dutch, (West) Germans, and French as Barzini ordered it—juxtaposed with the conundrum this Modern Era Old World continental finger pointing westwards presented to its primary benefactor and antagonist on the receiving end of that jabbing digit, the United States of Troublesome America, the power-that-need-be in Barzini's estimation, the European requisite, dismissed as an adjunct by those wishing for a strongly welded European Union, that, in the presence of the Great Soviet Bear sprawling formidably and inscrutably across the breadth of the Euro-Asian North, must be made to understand its trans-Atlantic democratic concomitants so that they, in their stead, might understand America and the desperate need for it to remain an active constituent element of the European present and future—albeit one that, with the benefit of that old faithful critic's weapon, the raptorial vision of hindsight, can be seen to have derived erroneous conclusions on a handful of its prognostications and dated itself with its analyses—via the pointing hand of Mencius Moldbug, that most-peculiar and long-winded (haha!) reactionary, in a blog post that also proffered the following astoundingly bold declaration upon the aesthetic accomplishments and cultural legacies of the nineteen-eighties:

In my opinion, this decade produced exactly one artistic achievement that will stand the test of time: Skinny Puppy.

[Scott Milton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly entertaining read. Barzini's awesome historical and cultural understanding of the European powers has perhaps had an intoxicating effect, inviting him to tread where many commentators today would be less confident and more likely to speak in highly qualified utterances behind closed doors. Barzini however charges forward unabashedly. If you read this book, do it only for the pleasure of being in conversation with a wit of considerable learning and eloquence. For those that want more, you may have to look elsewhere.

[Robert Strandquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating for two reasons: it’s nearly 20 years on now; and, his national views are comprehensive – taking into consideration a nation’s history, culture, leaders, a present role in the world. The book divides into countries: England, France, German, Italy, Holland, and United States. Each country’s section contains similar analyses and judgements. However, the compelling element in this work is Barzini’s ethos, his sense of authority that was developed over several decades spanning WWI, WWI, VietNam war through the early 1980’s. Plus his journalism background renders the writing style graceful, witty and worldly. For me the fact that 10 years after the publication of Europeans, Barzini’s dream came true: an official European Union and six years later came the actual Euro currency, both of which are under pressure for reform today – 2011. Barzini’s thesis commands and pleads for these two institutions – and they came into reality in part due to his real work as a diplomat and his writings. Again, for me Barzini’s portrayals of each nationality in and of itself as well as its relation among nations proved fascinating. Insights into how and why the English, the French, the Germans, the Italians, the Dutch and the Americans believe and act the way they do gave me many “Ah-ha!” moments. It’s worth re-reading as opinionated history.

[Henry Sturcke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elegantly written stereotypes

[Edward Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting (though not entirely successful) conceptual book that applies a psychological portrait (ranging from dead-on to generalization-heavy) to the major Western European nations (along with America). Barzini -- a prominent anti-Fascist who mocked Mussolini -- is on the firmest ground concerning Italy (naturally), Germany, and the French. Barzini is entertainingly urbane, pointing to the inherent bellicosity at the root of German culture while laying down some ironic barbs ("That many Germans were still human beings, civilized Europeans and Christians in spite of everything, was evident in Italy only toward the end of the war"). He points rightly to America's strange streak of perfectionism, suggesting that we are a generation ahead of the rest of Europe (even in 2024?), and the beautiful French qualities for unification and bonhomie. I think his chapter on the Dutch is too broad. Barzini insists that the Dutch are "patient, industrious, adventurous, and rich" because of the geography, but he only views this in terms of warfare. A very strange and sweeping conclusion to draw. He doesn't quite see the methodical temperament of the British, although he is right to point to the way they often cleave stubbornly to certain intellectual strains. So your mileage will vary. But I'd love to see more books like this. Sometimes, a fierce thinker, operating from the perch of obdurate independence, can often see more about a nation in his opinions than within the collected history of that nation itself. And Barzini lands more astute observations than misses. If you're interested in European temperaments, particularly in the mid-20th century, this is a short volume with a lot of perspicacity.

[Otgontuya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Европын хүчирхэг таван гүрэн, тэдгээрийн сайн хөрш Америк улсын тухай зохиолч өөрийн үзэл бодлыг маш сайн бичсэн. Жинхэнэ Англи хүн гэж хэн бэ? Жинхэнэ Англи зан чанар, Англичуудын бизнес хийх, олон улсын хэлэлцээр хийхдээ гаргадаг ерөнхий хэв маяг, дадал зуршил, тэдний байнга эрхэмлэж хамгаалдаг үзэл бодол нь юу вэ гэдгийг Английн түүх, дэлхийн дайнд оролцож байхдаа гаргасан үйл явдал, алдарт түүхэн хүмүүс, жирийн нэгэн хотын иргэдээс хүртэл бүхий л үйлдэлээс нь дүгнэж, өөрийн үзэл бодол дахь Англи орныг, мөн төдийгүй бусад таван гүрнийг тухай сайхан бичсэн байна. Үнэхээр сонирхолтой, хуудас бүр нь үнэ цэнэтэй, яг л нэг маш их зүйлийг мэддэг, мэргэн хэрнээ хошигнох дуртай настай хүнтэй буу халж суугаа юм шиг санагдсан. Хэнэггүй Англи зан, сайн ч юм шиг, нэг бол хамгийн их аюултай ч юм шиг, Германчууд, байнга л хэрүүл хийж явдаг Францчууд, гэнэн Италичууд, юунд нь ч итгэхэд хэцүү Америкчууд, үлгэр жишээч Голландууд гээд л үнэхээр мундаг, сонирхолтой бичсэн. Зохиолч Европын хүчирхэг гүрнүүдээр амьдарч, түүхэн хүмүүстэй уулзаж, ярилцаж байсан байна. Тэрээр өөрийн амьдралыг Европын орнуудын хоорондох гадаад харилцаа, уулзалт, тэдгээрийн бодлогыг судалж өнгөрүүлэхэд зарцуулсан байна. Гитлертэй хүртэл уулзаж байснаа номонд дурдсан байдаг.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually divined the most about Europeans as a collective from the chapter on Americans. Basically, really, with good reason, the Europeans are never sure whether the Americans are going to be isolationist or imperialist/interventionist in any given situation, and that unpredictability makes Europe very nervous. Written in the 80s, this is till 100% relevant today.

[René · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nicely written book on Western Europeans trying to decipher what makes the British, the Germans, the French, the Dutch and the Italians tick as they go through the history of the slow but gradual integration of Europe. Unfortunately, the author is too spell-bound by the Americans to question their motives in the final chapter.

[Ostap · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+
This book about the biggest European nations and, as a bonus, Americans, was published in 1983 and by 1993 it probably seemed hopelessly outdated. But now it looks as relevant as ever. The author's observations are often provocative but always acute and let you look at Germans or Ductch from an unexpected angle.
Recommended.

[Shore O · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simply written and well-illustrated book explaining the benefits of European federalism as well as a clear-eyed description of the challenges that were (and in many cases still are) roadblocks to its emergence.

The style of presenting the inter-state conflicts preventing federalisation as 'national personalities' is inventive and appreciated.

[JJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

While dated (1980s) the author brings a lot of history to this book...and insight into each country's characteristics. However his utter callousness in discussing women in the German chapter is appalling and the reason for my low rating. I don't recomend this book.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although completely outdated, this is still a valuable book about Europe as it was at the time.

[Mary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it took the perspective of a Italian-European, Luigi Barzini, in the 1980s and his take on the development of the European Community that exists in full force today. He advocated the development of the European Union, including the United States, and talked about the criticsm that existed in the 1980s against the development of a European Community for fear of losing a country's national identity and independence. I particularly enjoyed the Chapter called "The Baffling Americans" which gave his take on Americans and how we are perceived by Europeans. Barzini talks about how Americans have a sense of mission and pride, power and invicibility. These are traits that many Europeans admire but he argues that it is our pragmatism, need to finish the job at all costs, and "lack of respect of other people's precedents and experiences and the past in general" that hurts us in foreign affairs. I thought this was a wise critique particularly given the political climate we currently find ourselves in today.

[Evi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great perspective on the formation of the European Community from the perspective of an Italian in the early 1980's. It was a good outline of viewpoints/short histories about main countries (UK, US, Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands) involved in the development of the EU.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Barzini does a wonderful job assigning a personality to a country to help you understand it on a macro level.

[Barbara]

read it in English

[Cat. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This looks interesting but it's REALLY overdue, and my brain can't get around it right now.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Same aims as The Italians: A Full-Length Portrait Featuring Their Manners and Morals but less successful because it offers essentialist national stereotypes of more than one place.