How the Tricolor Got Its Stripes: And Other Stories About Flags

by Dmytro Dubilet

'A sparkling tour through the stories of the symbols we know so well' - Tim Marshall

Starting with flags that we know, this captivating history explains the origins and hidden meanings of flags, taking a chatty but always entertaining path through this universal subject.

Each chapter starts with a well-known flag and shows how that flag led to a number of other flags - so, for example, how the French tricolor led to the red, white and green tricolor of Italy, and then to a host of other tricolors in different parts of the world.

Many of the over 200 colour illustrations feature alternative versions of existing flags - the flags that might have been - such as the red Canadian maple leaf between two bands of blue, representing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

This entertaining and very likeable history of flags was written by Ukrainian businessman and ex-cabinet minister Dmytro Dubilet and first published in Ukrainian six months before the start of the Ukrainian-Russian war.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2023

Reviews

[Jurjen Abbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit boek moet voor de schrijver een uitgekomen jongensdroom geweest zijn. Dubilet is ondernemer en politicus en schrijft normaal geen boeken maar heeft How the Tricolor Got Its Stripes geschreven puur omdat hij zo gek is op feitjes en op de landen van de wereld. Ik vond hem heel sympathiek overkomen.
Het boek leert je veel weetjes over de geschiedenis achter iedere nationale vlag. Soms blijken vlaggen een verrassend verband met andere vlaggen te hebben. Ook is het soms puur toeval dat ervoor zorgt hoe vlaggen eruit komen te zien. Leuk om zo de hele wereld bij langs te gaan.

[NixHv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since childhood I was into flags, but all books about it were either too childish or too scientific. In my opinion this book just found the perfect balance for us “recreative vexillologists”. It is very fluid for reading and contains many interesting historical informations and fun facts about countries and its flags. It all makes more sense now.

I recommend it 100%, it is probably the best book I read in a while.

[Stephen Ede-Borrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am usually both cautious and reluctant when it comes to 'generic' books about flags - they are often little more than a list (frequently out of date by the time it is published because the numerous short-lived flags of African states) with a short background. This book looked intriguing however and I am so very glad that overcame my prejudice because it is quite excellent!

The subtitle sums up the book nicely and the discussions of the background as well as the origins of National Flags are fascinating - I have to say that I learnt a LOT, and I think anyone reading this would find fascinating. Whether you have only just learnt about how Singapore came to be independent (fascinating story on its own) or want to know why only ONE national flag in the world lacks either red, white, or blue - then I would recommend this book.

It is beautifully written in a very engaging, and I have to say enthusiastic, style. I won't deny I would like to have seen the illustrations (which are colour throughout btw) larger in some cases but this is a very minor niggle.

Fascinating, educational, wonderful and highly recommended.

[Matej Petroci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t expect a book about flags could be such a fun and informative read. It tells the story of our world by explaining design and history behind each country’s flag. More of a reference work, to dip into when needed, full of interesting stories and fun facts.

[Kristian Djuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tok litt tid, men ei vanvittig gøyal og interessant bok! Må inntas i små porsjonar for å prosessera all faktakunnskaper.

[Gortius Octavo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo diría que es uno de los libros más “mainstream” de la vexilología. Son unas 200 agujas muy amenas repletas de anécdotas sobre las banderas de TODOS los países del mundo, como unas están conectadas a otras, como se adoptaron, curiosidades sobre lo que representan, etc. Para alguien ya metido en el mundo de las banderas la mayoría de las historias aquí relatadas ya las conocerá, pero aún así son un buen recordatorio.

Si que tengo algunos problemas con la edición del libro. A pesar de estar preciosamente editado, lo que lo hace muy ameno, hay varios problemas de palabras mal escritas o frases inacabadas, y lo que más me sorprende, algunas de las imágenes de banderas son de muy baja calidad, están muy pixeladas. Además, me parece un fallo poner a Tim Marshall como “Autor de Prisioneros de la Geografía”, cuando su libro “El poder de las banderas” va a ser más relevante al lector.

En fin, junto con el previamente mencionado libro “El poder de las banderas”, este libro es una buena introducción al mundo de las banderas.