R. C. K. Ensor (1877–1958)

A not uncritical, but principally sympathetic explanation of the Geography, History & Socio-Political make-up of a relatively young Belgium ("establishment of Belgian independence in 1830-31-39") to help Britons understand why so many British (& French, later also Brit. Empire) lives & resources were being expended across the Channel defending (by 1915 barely one-sixth not in hands of Kaiser's Germany) the small European neighbour against the mighty armed forces of its giant central European show more neighbour. show less

Very interesting in that Ensor writes from personal memory of the politicians of the period; he also provides
very striking statistics on the collapse of British agriculture and decline of British industry due to foreign competition.