Quite impressive overview of the culture in the Dutch Republic of the 17th Century. In just 2 generations this new country became an economic, diplomatic and cultural giant. Schama zooms in on how the cultural elite of the republic looked at this very steep rise: certainly with awe and pride, but also with some feelings of uneasiness and discomfort. Nicely done, but to my taste, Schama is a bit too dependent on the pictural arts. (3.5 stars)