This is so interesting. I recently visited the Giffard factory in France and I loved hearing about the history of those products too, particularly the menthe-pastille. Pleased to say that I have a bottle of luxardo maraschino. Phew! A Last Word is a favourite.
I admittedly find I like the Maraska a bit better than Luxardo as it seems a touch less sweet. it's what I always use to make Maraschino cherries at home as they're otherwise impossible to find in Spain.
But, in having spent far too much time researching family history in the Balkans, I've realized that the concept of one country, one language in Europe to be exceedingly 20th century, derived from a 19th colonial mindset.
I think it's both a colonial and an anti-colonial mindset. Dividing people up into ethnic and linguistic groups help you govern your empire by divide-and-rule but it also leads to anti-imperial nationalism developing as happened in Austro-Hungary, Soviet Union etc etc. As AJP Taylor once said (probably) 'it's complicated, man'.
I have a copy of this for you as a token of gratitude for your substack. Is there some kind of messaging function on here that will allow me to get sufficient details to send it you. Alternatively I can give it to Patrick Matthews for him to pass on. Please let me know. Thank you.
This is so interesting. I recently visited the Giffard factory in France and I loved hearing about the history of those products too, particularly the menthe-pastille. Pleased to say that I have a bottle of luxardo maraschino. Phew! A Last Word is a favourite.
I admittedly find I like the Maraska a bit better than Luxardo as it seems a touch less sweet. it's what I always use to make Maraschino cherries at home as they're otherwise impossible to find in Spain.
But, in having spent far too much time researching family history in the Balkans, I've realized that the concept of one country, one language in Europe to be exceedingly 20th century, derived from a 19th colonial mindset.
I think it's both a colonial and an anti-colonial mindset. Dividing people up into ethnic and linguistic groups help you govern your empire by divide-and-rule but it also leads to anti-imperial nationalism developing as happened in Austro-Hungary, Soviet Union etc etc. As AJP Taylor once said (probably) 'it's complicated, man'.
Have you read The Snows of Yesteryear by Gregor Von Rezzori?
Ah no. I haven't it looks really interesting. Perhaps my favourite novel on the old empire is the Radetzky March by Joseph Roth.
I have a copy of this for you as a token of gratitude for your substack. Is there some kind of messaging function on here that will allow me to get sufficient details to send it you. Alternatively I can give it to Patrick Matthews for him to pass on. Please let me know. Thank you.
Hello! Please send me an email to henry g jeffreys at gmail dot com
If you need a holiday read I think you would really enjoy it. Going to order a copy of Danubia.