The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age
Encyclopedia
The Embarrassment of Riches: An interpretation of Dutch culture in the Golden Age is a book by the historian Simon Schama
. It was published in 1987, five years after the bicentenary of the Dutch recognition of the young United States. The book sold quite well and led to an immediate second printing only a few months after its release. It was initially well received and did so well, it was translated into Dutch (Dutch title: Overvloed en Onbehagen:De Nederlandse cultuur in de Gouden Eeuw) and published there in 1988, where it was also well received. The book is credited today with giving new insights into the Dutch poldermodel system of governance.
culture, Schama cites an eclectic list of period source materials from all over the world, including emblem books, period histories and novels, cookbooks, scientific discoveries, bankruptcy files, religious works, and period art including prints, paintings, sculpture, architecture and stained glass windows. He revisits Dutch Golden Age morals, from how they brought up their children, to how they mourned their dead. His conclusion is that through the continuous battle against the waters of the North Sea
, the Dutch spirit can be summed up in the motto of Zeeland
, scene of many floods from dike breaches, Luctor et Emergo, or I struggle and emerge. The book is easy to read and is more a group of separate essays than a cohesive unit, making it a good candidate for reading in short installments or as a quick reference for various aspects of the subject.
. Authors through the centuries have often used materials from predecessors without questioning the original sources, leading to many conflicting statements.
, which Schama defines as being from 1570-1670. A small chain of criticisms did pop up about some of the book's statements, especially those having to do with the politics of the Thirty Years' War
, or the economics of the period, but many (especially in the Netherlands) were inspired by his book, including professors of history who wondered like Schama why the Dutch seem so embarrassed about their wealthy past. Herman Pleij, a Dutch professor of Middle Dutch literature
was inspired to write a whole book in response, called The Dutch Embarrassment.
Susan Buck-Morss
criticizes Schama for his "selective national history" of the Dutch Republic
, "that omits much or all of the colonizing story." "One would have no idea that Dutch hegemony in the slave trade (replacing Spain and Portugal as major players) contributed substantially to the enormous "overload" of wealth that he describes as becoming so socially and morally problematic during the century of Dutch "centrality" to the "commerce of the world.""
Simon Schama
Simon Michael Schama, CBE is a British historian and art historian. He is a University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University. He is best known for writing and hosting the 15-part BBC documentary series A History of Britain...
. It was published in 1987, five years after the bicentenary of the Dutch recognition of the young United States. The book sold quite well and led to an immediate second printing only a few months after its release. It was initially well received and did so well, it was translated into Dutch (Dutch title: Overvloed en Onbehagen:De Nederlandse cultuur in de Gouden Eeuw) and published there in 1988, where it was also well received. The book is credited today with giving new insights into the Dutch poldermodel system of governance.
Summary
In his attempt to make a systematic overview of the Dutch Golden AgeDutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
culture, Schama cites an eclectic list of period source materials from all over the world, including emblem books, period histories and novels, cookbooks, scientific discoveries, bankruptcy files, religious works, and period art including prints, paintings, sculpture, architecture and stained glass windows. He revisits Dutch Golden Age morals, from how they brought up their children, to how they mourned their dead. His conclusion is that through the continuous battle against the waters of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, the Dutch spirit can be summed up in the motto of Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, scene of many floods from dike breaches, Luctor et Emergo, or I struggle and emerge. The book is easy to read and is more a group of separate essays than a cohesive unit, making it a good candidate for reading in short installments or as a quick reference for various aspects of the subject.
Historiographic background
The history of the Netherlands has long been colored by local histories financed by the various Dutchies and leading families through the ages. There are several discrepancies to be found in period accounts between the various city archives and the archives of other institutions such as Water Boards or the Catholic church. Many archives have been sadly neglected or worse, destroyed by war or as in the case of the Catholic Church, the beeldenstormBeeldenstorm
Beeldenstorm in Dutch, roughly translatable to "statue storm", or Bildersturm in German , also the Iconoclastic Fury, is a term used for outbreaks of destruction of religious images that occurred in Europe in the 16th century...
. Authors through the centuries have often used materials from predecessors without questioning the original sources, leading to many conflicting statements.
Criticism
Historians in the US and in the Netherlands agreed the book was erudite and offered many fresh insights due to its 360-degree approach to the whole period of the Dutch Golden AgeDutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
, which Schama defines as being from 1570-1670. A small chain of criticisms did pop up about some of the book's statements, especially those having to do with the politics of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, or the economics of the period, but many (especially in the Netherlands) were inspired by his book, including professors of history who wondered like Schama why the Dutch seem so embarrassed about their wealthy past. Herman Pleij, a Dutch professor of Middle Dutch literature
Medieval Dutch literature
Medieval Dutch literature is the Dutch literature produced in the Low Countries from the earliest stages of the language up to the sixteenth century.-Early stages:...
was inspired to write a whole book in response, called The Dutch Embarrassment.
Susan Buck-Morss
Susan Buck-Morss
Susan Buck-Morss is an American philosopher and intellectual historian. She is currently Professor of Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center.- Books :...
criticizes Schama for his "selective national history" of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
, "that omits much or all of the colonizing story." "One would have no idea that Dutch hegemony in the slave trade (replacing Spain and Portugal as major players) contributed substantially to the enormous "overload" of wealth that he describes as becoming so socially and morally problematic during the century of Dutch "centrality" to the "commerce of the world.""