古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
血 统 的 疑 惑

around 1900, the united states was still a parvenu among nations, much patronised by the sophisticated society of europe. some well-placed frenchman remarked, for instance, that any time an american had nothing to do he could amuse himself endlessly by trying to find out who his grandfather was.

naturally, americans did not like this hint that they were a mongrel people of no descent, and there was loud jubilation, and very nearly an international incident, when it was reported that mark twain had countered by saying, " and whenever a frenchman has nothing to do, he can amuse himself endlessly by trying to find out who his father was. "