Britannia in Brief - by Leslie Banker & William Mullins (Paperback)

About the Book

For travelers and anglophiles alike, this roundup of vital British culture isall at once clever, entertaining, and thoroughly useful.

Book Synopsis

When it comes to Britain, most Americans don't know (Union) Jack. Fortunately, now an Anglo-American husband-and-wife team are here to help with a smart, funny, and handy guide that minds the gap between fact and fiction. From Whigs and Windsors to wankers and Wales, this spit-spot-on reference covers all manner of British history, society, culture, language, and everyday life, including

- the class system, title envy, and a thumbnail sketch of British dynasties
- highlights of the social season (yes, they have a social season)
- Parliament, prime ministers, and a wild variety of political parties
- British sports 101, including football (by which we mean soccer), cricket, rugby, snooker, and darts
- answers to the pressing question: What's on the telly?
- British culinary delights, from Marmite to late-night tikka masala
- odd pronunciations (e.g., how "St. John" becomes "Sin Jun")
- cockney slang, or why you should never get caught "telling porkies on the dog"
- Londoners' pride in the Tube and the truth about trainspotting

So whether you're traveling to England on business or for pleasure, dating a Brit, hoping to comfort a homesick Londoner (whip up a treacle tart, recipe included), or simply curious about life across the pond, Britannia in Brief is the perfect companion.

Review Quotes

"A witty, irreverent crash course '101' that all Anglophiles will love. Leslie Banker and William Mullins have bridged the great divide between two countries separated by a common language. A bloody good read!"--Anita Naughton, author of Tea and Sympathy

"Britannia in Brief is an indispensable guide. Better than Fromer's, shorter than the Encyclopedia Britannica, it is hilarious, clever, and spot-on. This book is perfect for every foreigner who wishes to talk local, and for every local who doesn't get out enough."--Amanda Foreman, author of The Duchess

About the Author

Leslie Banker is co-author of The Pocket Decorator and The Pocket Renovator both published by Universe. She has written freelance articles for Interior Design magazine, Edible Rhody, and a regular column for Realtor Magazine On-Line.

William Mullins is a financial software developer and has written freelance pieces for salon.com and The Boston Book Review. Before moving to the US he was an assistant editor at Debrett's in London.