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Article: The Myth of British Monarchy.
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- July 29, 1989
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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BIT by tiny bit, and not before time, a new subject is beginning to surface in commentary on British public affairs. The monarchy is starting to be examined. Debate has been joined. Is constitutional monarchy a uniquely satisfactory state of affairs, providing both an uncontroversial source of authority and a link with a nation's past? Or is it an anachronism, the negation of democracy, all fluff and tax dodges?
Edgar Wilson's book is the second within a year to take the latter line, and a forthcoming pamphlet by Christopher Hitchens, a British journalist based in Washington, will probably follow it too. Mr Wilson's book is less entertaining an dmore ...