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'a perfect gift book' - Independent Publisher's Catalogue 'this book is full of charm and highlights the poignant contrast between two very different attitudes to life' - Lincolnshire Echo 'On seven pages of foolscap, in under 6,000 typewritten words, the unknown author drew up a guide to wartime Britain, and an Ordnance Survey map of its psyche' - The Daily Telegraph
Product Description
In 1942 the United States War Department distributed a handbook to American Servicemen advising them on the peculiarities of the 'British, their country, and their ways'. The guide was intended to lessen the culture shock for those embarking on their first trip to Great Britain, and for the most part, abroad. The instructions are a wonderful interpretation of the differences between the two allies. By turns hilarious and poignant, many observations remain quaintly relevant today.Every page is full of enchantingly nostalgic advice and observations. Reproduced in a style reminiscent of the era, this is a wonderfully evocative war-time memento. The reader, from whatever country, will revel in the amusing and terrifically truthful American perception of the British character and country.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
An unassuming enough publication, this small manilla book could easily get passed over while browsing. But take another look!
This book reproduces the guidance and instructions published by the US War Department and given to American servicemen on their way over to live in Britain during the second world war. Split into short sections like "Age before size", "British women at war", "The British like sports", "Indoor amusements", "Don't be a show off", "Waste means lives" and similar, this book provides a candid snapshot of American views of Britain and the British people. It also provides a guide to the differences between American and British language.
I found this book funny, fascinating and touching; a beautiful insight into the Britain of those war years, and into the concern of the American authorities that their servicemen should make the best impression on their hosts.
"It is always impolite to criticize your hosts; it is militarily stupid to criticize your allies."
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
This was great. I picked it up by chance on my way back from doing the shopping. Flicked though a couple of pages in the book shop and had to stop to read it in a pub on the way home. Really fascinating - I learned a lot about war-time Britain in 30 mins. Very short, but a great read. Beautifully written, too. A great gift for your dad. Haven't read the France one yet, but going to order it now.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
I've read this little book a dozen times and it never fails to bring a lump to my throat. Why then, have I only given it three stars? All will be explained.
The original document on which this is based was seven pages of ratty typescript, handed out to American servicemen on the boat over in 1942. This reprint has, for reasons of style rather than authenticity, been printed on fuzzy brown woodchip paper and covered with the sort of brown paper one wraps parcels in.
Other Yanks had already come over, and judging by what these are all told repeatedly NOT to do, one can tell what problems had been encountered by them, and by their hosts. The "Instructions" were written by a very Anglophile American - we have a feeling here of a real love of Britain, not simply a politician trying to be diplomatic. What is rather shocking is his assumption (based, we must presume, on experience) that American servicemen will be arrogant, insensitive, rude, greedy and wasteful; that they will chuck their weight around, sneer at the state of war-torn Britain, criticise almost everything they encounter, and hold forth at length about how they won the "last" war and will now proceed to win this one for us.
All this is, of course, delightful reading to those who find modern Americans arrogant, insensitive, rude etc etc, who despise American culture and distrust American politics - a group which I have to confess I belong to. This is the Britain of "Foyles War"; a land of dirty trains, ghastly food, darned socks and quiet everyday heroism. It's good for "the youth of today" to realise how much their grandparents did without, but the freeview channels already bombard us with The War for hours every day. Why are we still so obsessed, so seduced? I am as guilty as anyone; I watch it all, while still wondering why.
I am not sure, however enjoyable it may be, that this book is a Good Thing. It gives me a wonderful warm feeling inside, but then so does gin. It panders to all that is worst in us; not, I hasten to add, honest patriotism, but a sort of self-indulgent nostalgia which is essentially fake, like the England of TV's Miss Marple. Life during the Second World War was grim and desperate; yes, there was great camaraderie and the human spirit triumphed, but we shouldn't hanker after something which we wouldn't actually want to go through.
On a more picky note, why this brown paper? Why not a cover which actually LOOKS like it's from the 1940s? And why not, when the book is so small anyway, use a decent size type and proper black ink so daft old farts like me can read it more easily?
The original document on which this is based was seven pages of ratty typescript, handed out to American servicemen on the boat over in 1942. This reprint has, for reasons of style rather than authenticity, been printed on fuzzy brown woodchip paper and covered with the sort of brown paper one wraps parcels in.
Other Yanks had already come over, and judging by what these are all told repeatedly NOT to do, one can tell what problems had been encountered by them, and by their hosts. The "Instructions" were written by a very Anglophile American - we have a feeling here of a real love of Britain, not simply a politician trying to be diplomatic. What is rather shocking is his assumption (based, we must presume, on experience) that American servicemen will be arrogant, insensitive, rude, greedy and wasteful; that they will chuck their weight around, sneer at the state of war-torn Britain, criticise almost everything they encounter, and hold forth at length about how they won the "last" war and will now proceed to win this one for us.
All this is, of course, delightful reading to those who find modern Americans arrogant, insensitive, rude etc etc, who despise American culture and distrust American politics - a group which I have to confess I belong to. This is the Britain of "Foyles War"; a land of dirty trains, ghastly food, darned socks and quiet everyday heroism. It's good for "the youth of today" to realise how much their grandparents did without, but the freeview channels already bombard us with The War for hours every day. Why are we still so obsessed, so seduced? I am as guilty as anyone; I watch it all, while still wondering why.
I am not sure, however enjoyable it may be, that this book is a Good Thing. It gives me a wonderful warm feeling inside, but then so does gin. It panders to all that is worst in us; not, I hasten to add, honest patriotism, but a sort of self-indulgent nostalgia which is essentially fake, like the England of TV's Miss Marple. Life during the Second World War was grim and desperate; yes, there was great camaraderie and the human spirit triumphed, but we shouldn't hanker after something which we wouldn't actually want to go through.
On a more picky note, why this brown paper? Why not a cover which actually LOOKS like it's from the 1940s? And why not, when the book is so small anyway, use a decent size type and proper black ink so daft old farts like me can read it more easily?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent Gift!
I work with the USAF and have bought this several times over the years to give as a little gift to my boss when they leave to go back the to USA, it was done as a joke the first... Read more
Published 3 months ago by barbz
Brilliant insight to period: good for teenagers
I bought this as a stocking filler for my son when he was 12. He thought it was very amusing, because of the language, but it also prompted discussion over how things were then,... Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2007 by Joanne K. Pilsworth
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