CHAPTER 22 – An English Invasion of the Riviera

In the 19th century, Lord Brougham’s fortuitous discovery of the Riviera, when an accident forced his detour towards Cannes, marked the advent of English aristocracy to the region. Previously overlooked during the Grand Tour favored by young aristocrats, the Riviera’s climate and beauty captivated Brougham, leading him to establish a villa there. His actions sowed the seeds for the transformation of this coast into a destination marked by its splendid residences stretching from Marseilles to Genoa, rendering Cannes a hub of English fashion.

This chapter traces the peculiar ability of the British to import their individuality and customs into foreign locales, effectively resisting assimilation while establishing familiar comforts of home overseas. Their penchant for colonization is highlighted by their widespread influence in Cannes, where British preferences notably altered the local culture and economy.

The narrative also delves into broader cultural observations, contrasting the British predilection for imposing their habits abroad with their alleged insularity and dullness, as humorously exemplified in linguistic peculiarities and tea-drinking habits. It muses on the English tendency towards masculinizing women’s fashion and behaviors, revealing a stark difference in evening attire that juxtaposes the plainness of British women with the elegance and finesse of their French counterparts.

Moreover, the chapter contends with the deep cultural divide and mutual misconceptions harbored by the English and French. It analogizes the modern dynamic between these nations to historical relations between Rome and Greece, with England cast as a conqueror and colonizer akin to Rome, and France as inheriting Greece’s artistic and intellectual legacy.

Through observations of social habits, architectural endeavors, and cultural exchanges in Cannes and beyond, the text paints a vivid picture of the lasting impact of English tastes and colonial practices on the French Riviera, while also reflecting on the broader complexities of Anglo-French relations.