Breaking national stereotypes: on George Eliot's essay A word for the Germans

The author of the article concentrates on the analysis of George Eliot’s essay A Word for the Germans in the context of contemporary British intercultural and national issues which are so acute nowadays. The moral and cultural positions of the writer when she looks at national stereotypes of her times are under consideration. The analytical basis of George Eliot’s attitudes towards other nations and cultures, demonstrated in her essay, is her tolerance and her mentality of European dimension. George Eliot’s sarcastic tone when she appeals to well-known in the world English national snobbism is shown in the annotated article. The author of the article proves that George Eliot’s profound knowledge and comprehension of German culture and national character help her to be seriously argumentative in her destroying English stereotypical attitude to the Germans.