A sparkling tour through the stories of the symbols we know so well * Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography and The Power of Geography * A joyous, witty book full of revelations about flags. With great panache, Dmytro Dubilet shows how a flag doesn't merely symbolise a nation but embodies it. His constantly surprising book could make vexillology (the study of flags) a mainstream pursuit. * Andrew Martin, author of Underground Overground and Night Trains * A charming book, written with disarming simplicity. Dubilet has unearthed a flood of bizarre stories from around the world and across time. Very enjoyable. * Simon Kuper, author of Chums * How the Tricolor Got Its Stripes transcends most forgettable stocking fillers and becomes something truly important: a rallying cry for democracy, an appeal to reason, a defence of the concept of truth itself. * Prospect Magazine, Books of the Month *