One of the Irish girls who stayed with us for two weeks of free bed and board lectured us on her last day. We used too much electricity, we left lights and air-conditioning on in unoccupied rooms, etc., etc. Not only that, George Bush failed miserably with the hurricane. Americans are selfish, using up most of the world’s resources.
She and her friend never contributed one thing during their stay; not a piece of cake, not a bottle of soda.
So rude.
I agree; and perhaps your experiences have colored your view of the book. Europeans have been completely indoctrinated to hate and envy us, and I have met crashing hate-America boors in most European countries except Italy every time I've been there -- but also some lovely folks who were welcoming and reasonable. I'm sorry you had that experience with your Irish lodgers. However, I regard it as separate from the book, which took place largely before WWII.