The book reveals that sometimes the tradition, which is considered to be rooted and to have existed since long ago, does not in fact have such long history. It is recent in origin and sometimes even "invented" in order to boost national prestige and identity.
The title of the book is compelling, an unexpected combination of words.
"To invent" means "to create, produce, or construct by original thought or ingenuity," suggesting the process of creation out of nothing.
"Invention" is completely against the sense that "tradition" has, a practice or custom which is generally accepted and has been established for some time within a society, social group, etc. it is something transmitted, passed down from generation to generation.
"The invention of tradition" consists of words whose sense is quite the opposite.
Hence, the phrase is a fantastic example of "oxymoron."
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