The Invention Of Tradition
(HOBSBAWM,RANGER)
Many practices which are considered traditional are in fact
quite recent inventions, often deliberately constructed to serve particular
ideological ends. The Invention of tradition is a collection of
articles on the construction of symbolic and ceremonial traditions over the
last couple of centuries, particularly by the British. Most of the included
pieces are around fifty pages long, allowing for quite expansive treatment of
their subject. They are all of high quality and The Invention of Tradition
is an important collection of work, which will interest both historians and
those interested in the history of ideas.
Hugh Trevor-Roper describes the creation of the Scottish
"Highland" tradition ? I was astounded to discover that the kilt was
invented by an Englishman in 1730, while the so called "clan tartans"
are a nineteenth century invention! In a similar vein (though without any
revelations quite so surprising), Prys Morgan traces the development of Welsh
national traditions during the Romantic period. David Cannadine''s piece is
quite topical, given the move towards a republic in Australia: he explains how most of
the ceremonial associated with the British monarchy, which is often assumed to
be of great antiquity, has in fact been constructed since 1870.
Moving away from Britain itself to British imperialism and colonialism,
Bernard Cohn writes about the creation of new forms of authority in India, with
special attention on the Imperial Assemblage of 1876, and Terence Ranger about
the transplantation of Western traditions and the creation of entirely new
"native" ones by colonial authorities in Africa (and the later re-use
of these traditions by ethnic and nationalist movements). The final chapter, by
Hobsbawm himself, surveys the development of mass traditions in Europe up to
the First World War ? the festivals, holidays, monuments, stamps, sports and
schools associated with nationalism, the labor movement, and the rising middle
classes.
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