An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

352: Amsterdam: Kings, Canals, and Coffee Houses (Part 2)

July 20, 2023

Description

A city which played a fundamental role in the Dutch Golden Age and in the birth of the Dutch monarchy, Amsterdam has also stood in the avant-garde of European liberalism since the Second World...
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Books Referenced

The Three Imposters

Author: Anonymous

Context:

Discussed as a notorious book published in Amsterdam during the 18th century, describing Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed as the 'three imposters.' Referenced as an example of radical enlightenment literature that could only be published in Amsterdam due to its tolerance for controversial works.

The Diary of Anne Frank

Author: Anne Frank

Context:

Referenced when discussing how 'the survival of Anne Frank's diary gives a human face to' the horror of what happened to Jews in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation. The diary is mentioned as personalizing the tragedy in a way unique to Amsterdam.