A Tall Man in a Low Land
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Book Overview
Most British travel writers head south for a destination that is hot, exotic, dangerous or all three. Harry Pearson chose to head in the opposite direction for a country which is damp, safe and of legendary banality: Belgium. But can any nation whose most famous monument is a statue of a small boy urinating really be that dull? Pearson lived there for several months, burying himself in the local culture. He drank many of the 800 different beers the Belgians produce; ate local delicacies such as kip kap (jellied pig cheeks) and a mighty tonnage of chicory and chips. In one restaurant the house speciality was 'Hare in the style of grandmother'. 'I didn't order it. I quite like hare, but had no wish to see one wearing zip-up boots and a blue beret.' A TALL MAN IN A LOW LAND commemorates strange events such as The Festival of Shrimps at Oostduinkerke and laments the passing of the Underpant Museum in Brussels. No reader will go away from A TALL MAN IN A LOW LAND without being able to name at least ten famous Belgians. Mixing evocative description and low-grade buffoonery Harry Pearson paints a portrait of Belgium that is more rounded than a Smurf after a night on the mussels.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0349112061
ISBN13:9780349112060
Release Date:September 1999
Publisher:Abacus (UK)
Length:246 Pages
Weight:0.44 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 4.9" x 7.6"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Travelogues
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
What a great book! As someone who's a Belgian-afile at heart this met my expectations and more. Interesting and funny, I read it cover to cover in one sitting. Afterwards I felt like I had enjoyed a wonderful,special dinner; full and satisfying. I found the book in good condition when it arrived as was promised. Only a few used copies were available when I ordered. Not sure if it's going out of print...
What I didn't know about Belgium...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
...could fill a library. And this would be a good place to start. Slightly surreal, slightly baroque, very funny. If you enjoy this odd travelogue as much as I did, you might also like Tim Moore's "Frost on My Moustache."
Taking Belgium Seriously Through Humour
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Briton Harry Pearson's long travels to virtually every nook and cranny of Belgium provide a nuanced and enjoyable portrait of a little known culture. Longstanding ethnic and linguistic differences between Wallonia and Flanders are carefully explained, as are major episodes of the country's history, from colonialism in Africa under King Leopold II to the new status of Brussels as the bureacratic heart of the European union. Though Pearon's travel itinerary often meandered, he covers much ground with dry wit and a close eye for seemingly eccentric behaviour. Long regarded as the poor cousin of France and the Netherlands, Belgium and its people are the punchline of many European jokes. Yet for all his chronicles of dubious Belgian aesthetic tastes and futile do-it-yourself construction projects, Pearson's bemused affection for the nation yields a pleasurable and informative read.
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