The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British

Rue Britannia

Well-written and amusing take on English society by an American woman now living there with an English husband. She surprises by not being simply flip and funny, which is the usual way of such books, but actually supporting her viewpoints with facts. I docked it one star because a good bit of this is by now pretty familiar stuff, but that's arguably unfair.

English as a Second Language

I've been working with English brands and dating an English man for years, so it seemed only fitting that I read this book. Sarah Lyall clearly paid attention to her surroundings -- although her subjects might not be too happy about that.

There were some laugh out loud moments, and some often slow moments that lead to a payoff for the sake of understanding just how the English operate (not to say they make sense, but they sound so polite and well intentioned, that you really don't care).

While I could've skipped the cricket chapter, I enjoyed reading this book, as it hit so close to home.

If you're planning a trip to England, or considering a move there, definitely read this book. It may keep you from getting beat up in a pub.

A great read!

This witty and informative book takes an endearing look at the British from the point of view of an American who is married to a British subject. Chapters are organized around themes such as the Houses of Parliament, British Cuisine, and Teeth, to name a few. (I found myself laughing out loud many times during my reading of it. The book is well-written and FUNNY! A great vacation read.

Very entertaining and insightful

I never write reviews, but in this case I wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author is very, very funny and writes beautifully--I found myself laughing out loud a LOT. As an American married to a Scot for nearly thirty years, I found answers that have eluded me. For example, whenever we've had friends or relatives visiting from the U.K., they'll kindly offer to wash the dishes, but never rinse off the soap. This has mystified me and not that it even matters (though this very example, mentioned in a review, is what made me buy the book in the first place), but this is precisely the sort of thing she discusses or explains: behaviors I've noticed over the years that I didn't quite understand. And she does it so well. She's amazingly insightful, but it's her pitch-perfect sense of humor that really makes this book such a pleasure to read. It's a fun, fast read that I'd highly recommend, especially for anyone with British spouse and in-laws.

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