Whilst I would have loved to have written about a riveting tale of drama and intrigue, I have instead plucked for the book I have probably found the most interesting to read recently. Yes, this is a book about flags, and that will probably dissuade some of you instantly. However, what if I told you this was a riveting tale of historical twists and turns?

I have always been obsessed with flags, countries, and capitals, which actually stems from my playing of the FIFA (now FC) video game series and my love of football. Seeing the flags of every player, ranging from giants like France, Germany, and Brazil, to relative minnows like Zambia, Benin and Guatemala was (and remains) fascinating to me. Dubilet walks us through the origins of every national flag in the world, all 190-or-so of them (in varying detail). Starting with France and ending with Vanuatu, the author takes us on a trip around the world all whilst you sit on your sofa.

About the Book:

Have you ever wondered why so many countries have a vertical tricolor? Or why Liechtenstein and Haiti have such similar flags despite being halfway across the world from each other? Or even why purple only occurs in tiny amounts on just five national flags? Well, dear reader, the answers to all of these questions are hidden in this book:

1. We have France to thank for almost one sixth of all national flags to be a tricolor (three horizontal or vertical stripes), as countries followed their lead after the French Revolution.

2. Liechtenstein and Haiti only realised at the 1936 Olympics that they had identical flags, so both added designs to change it.

3. Purple was historically one of the most expensive dyes, so in the days when flags were hand-dyed and not printed, it is no wonder not many flags have purple on!

The countries are sorted thematically, not alphabetically, so it is written in an engaging and logical way. Whilst Dubilet is not an academic or an author, he is an enthusiast who put an inordinate amount of research and passion into this book, which definitely shows when you read it. You will not only learn about the origins of the flags but, by association, the history behind these countries. Who knew flag politics could be so interesting?

Who would enjoy this book?

Obviously, I would recommend this book to any lovers of flags or broader geography in general. However, there is so much history and so many fascinating anecdotes in here that I can safely say this book has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a specific country, or you just have a curious mind, there is so much to learn from ‘How the Tricolor Got Its Stripes.’

I hope you enjoy the book!