George Mikes introduces Switzerland

Fülszöveg

What do you think of when someone says 'Switzerland'? It may be winter sports or watches, neutrality or chocolate, the Gnomes of Zurich or edelweiss, the League of Nations or cheese . Almost certainly it will be a very clear image based on indisputable fact, and it is equally likely to represent only a part of the truth. The purpose of this book is to portray Switzerland as it really is.
It takes the form of a collection of contributions by experts, introduced by George Mikes with a provocative assessment of homo helveticus in which, among many other things, he buries the myth of the Swiss as the inventors of the cuckoo clock. Two other 'foreigners' give their views: Norris Willatt, a Briton who lives in Zurich, on the Swiss achievement in industry and commerce, and the American novelist Irwin Shaw on the delights of sliding down a hill; but the majority of the essays are by Swiss writers.
They deal with the country's history, with its political system, with its... Tovább

Fülszöveg

What do you think of when someone says 'Switzerland'? It may be winter sports or watches, neutrality or chocolate, the Gnomes of Zurich or edelweiss, the League of Nations or cheese . Almost certainly it will be a very clear image based on indisputable fact, and it is equally likely to represent only a part of the truth. The purpose of this book is to portray Switzerland as it really is.
It takes the form of a collection of contributions by experts, introduced by George Mikes with a provocative assessment of homo helveticus in which, among many other things, he buries the myth of the Swiss as the inventors of the cuckoo clock. Two other 'foreigners' give their views: Norris Willatt, a Briton who lives in Zurich, on the Swiss achievement in industry and commerce, and the American novelist Irwin Shaw on the delights of sliding down a hill; but the majority of the essays are by Swiss writers.
They deal with the country's history, with its political system, with its architecture, its languages and the characters of its cities. They introduce you to its flora and fauna, to mountaineering and to traditional Swiss food. Each of them, taken separately, is informative and entertaining; and taken together they will leave you a great deal closer to understanding the Swiss and enjoying their beautiful country.
George Mikes introduces Switzerland is the sixth in a series of books designed for those - whether tourists, businessmen or armchair travellers - who want to get behind the stereotyped façade of a particular country. Like the others, it is illustrated with twenty-nve glorious colour plates. It is a book to help you relive old memories, or to plan a new trip. And it cannot fail to increase your understanding and appreciation of one of Europe's most remarkable countries.
The photographs on the jacket are reproduced bv kind permission of the Swiss National Tourist Office; the photograph of the Matterhorn is by Schuppisser and tVermeUnger. Vissza