Leslie Banker – Britannia in Brief

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Britannia in Brief: The Scoop on All Things British
by Leslie Banker-Mullins and William Mullins
Published by Ballantine Books, 2009

Buy it at Amazon
or at your local independent bookseller

The Preface
When we got engaged, we knew it was the dawn of an era of togetherness–living together, vacationing together, paying bills together, maybe even showering together–but writing a book together wasn’t something that we had ever considered. Then we spent a week in England visiting with family, attending a friend’s wedding, and going to a few dinner parties-it was the first time we’d been to the UK together-and Leslie, the native New Yorker, had about a million questions for William, the native Londoner. What’s an “ASBO”? Who are “chavs,” “yobs,” and “hoodies”? How about a TARDIS? Who’s more important: a duke or an earl? Is “bloody” a very bad word or a mildly bad word? What’s “salad cream”? Is Kylie Minogue really an icon in the UK? Do I tip at a pub? And what the heck is a “test match” at “Lord’s”? Some of the questions were so basic they seemed embarrassing: Exactly what’s the difference between the UK, Britain, and England? How often are parliamentary elections held? Is the UK a member of the EU? If so, then why do they use pounds instead of Euros?

In short, over the course of that trip we realized the cultural divide between the US and the UK is really a gaping chasm. We needed a book that would answer all these questions once and for all. And so we wrote Britannia in Brief – together. And it worked out surprisingly well (except for a few minor nationality-based disagreements regarding punctuation and spelling).

Since we embarked on this project, we’ve been able to forego the previously necessary debriefings on subsequent trips to the UK-whether they were about The Profumo Affair or Melvyn Bragg-and it was a huge relief for Leslie to finally get the jokes and join the conversation and for William to not have to answer so many questions.

We hope that you find as much satisfaction and enjoyment in reading Britannia in Brief as we had writing it (which is to say, it was a very positive experiment in togetherness).

Advance Praise for Britannia in Brief:

“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 Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

“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, co-author of Tea & Sympathy.

“A brilliant guide to the highs and lows of British pop culture from Ascot to alcopops.”
–Nicky Perry, co-author of Tea & Sympathy

A few reviews for Britannia in Brief:

“The splendid Britannia in Brief by Leslie Banker and William Mullins is a genuine transatlantic treat. Banker and Mullins provide much more than the typical travel guide gloss on our mutual muddle. They delve into history, society, culture, politics, and daily life, providing irreverent but very useful intelligence for the otherwise clueless Yank.”
– Charleston City Paper

Britannia in Brief is written at a high level, yet it engages the reader to an entertaining degree. We thoroughly enjoyed filling in the bridges in our gaps of knowledge on everything from Cockney slang to having a better understanding of the politics of England.
…we thought we knew a lot about England but now we REALLY think we know a lot. This is the most short and sweet book with a vast amount of interesting information that is a must-have for every Anglophile with a heartbeat! Whom You Know recommends Britania in Brief!
– Whom You Know

The authors have shown a real knack for getting to the heart of Britishness and presenting it in bite-size helpings. I’d heartily recommend this book for any (North) American who:
is about to embark on a year abroad/work placement/move to the UK
is going to visit people in Britain
is in love with someone in Britain
is slightly obsessive about Britain
– Separated By A Common Language

“…a wonderful guide to all things British — especially those things which would be highly puzzling to Americans. It is just chock full of information that simply can’t be found elsewhere — or at least, not easily. … an outstanding source of information and interesting facts.
Five Gherkins [out of five], for being a wonderful collection of useful information.”
– AngloAddict

“…provides excellent material for anyone planning to visit, move to, or simply think about the UK. The text is concise, easy to read and packed with useful and interesting information….I especially liked the geographical analogies on page 27, which equates unfamiliar British locations with locations more familiar to an American audience, a device they make good use of throughout the text. Really, what’s not to like? Actually, in looking over the table of contents, it’s hard to think of any aspect of British culture, history, society, sports or leisure pursuits (such as rioting in the streets) this pair has overlooked.”
– Postcards From Across The Pond

“This book is a must read for anyone considering moving to the UK. 5 out of 5 Union Jacks for insightful and informative briefs on life in the UK.”
- Anglotopia.net