Overview

"How do you respond to a dinner invitation that said ""Eight for eight thirty""? What might induce you to get off a London train at a place called Mud Chute? And why do the Brits keep saying ""Who's she, the cat's mother?"" ""Rules, Britannia"" is an invaluable resource for Americans who want to make a smooth transition when visiting or relocating to the UK. It is an entertaining and practical insider's guide containing scores of established do's and don'ts from across the pond that only a Brit would know: showing two fingers doesn't mean ""peace"" in the UK; when driving, never turn on red and for heaven's sake, keep left; and, don't stress over the salad plate. Covering such essential topics as vocabulary, house or ""flat"" hunting, business culture, child-rearing, and even relationship etiquette, this book will lessen the anxiety that comes with a trans-Atlantic move or extended visit, while giving the reader a leg up on the advanced communication ladder."

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9780312336653

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Reviews

Born and raised in England, but living now in Chicago, Hargis offers perspectives from both sides of the pond, proving once again that the United States and the United Kingdom are two countries divided by a common language. In chapters such as Words That Guarantee Giggles and Grub and Other Delicacies, the author explains differences in pronunciation and usage between American English terms and British English terms: In the U.K., Hush Puppies are a type of comfy shoe, and a sloppy joe is a sweater. Such discrepancies, obviously, can fill a book. Throughout, Hargis also includes lists of British words that might require translation (their sleeping policeman is our speed bump, and blokes named Randy or Willy will likely get stroppy and not at all cock-a-hoop after taking the piss from a tosser about their names) and American words that the Brits don't share (busboys and the concept of bussing a table are totally meaningless in the UK ). Sections on road rules, real estate, fas--Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly

Amazingly thorough. If you don't know a plonker from a slapper or a berk from Joe Soap, this is the book for you. <br>-Joe Queenan, author of True Believers and Queenan Country <br> A godsend to Americans trying to negotiate the minefield of British life it will be like having a helpful British best friend in your pocket, to guide you through all the tricky bits. <br>-Kate Fox, author of Watching the English <br> Although I have traveled through the UK and written about it for years, I found myself reading RULES, BRITANNIA with the pleasure of a first-timer. Toni Summers Hargis answered questions I didn't even know I had, and I smiled in recognition of many of the small but very important nuances she points out. For anyone who wants to arrive in the UK armed with the knowledge of an insider, her book is well-organized, humorous and amazingly comprehensive. <br>--Susan Allen Toth, author of My Love Affair with England and England as You Like It <br>

Hargis knows whereof she speaks. She grew up in England and holds a law degree from Bristol University; today, she''s a business writer and resident of Chicago. Her perspective on the difference among U.S. and U.K. cultures is, as a Brit might say, spot on. The key, in large part, is the language. Familiar terms in our version of English are often unknown in the United Kingdom, and the reverse is equally, if not more, true. Covering a wide range of topics, from the considerable differences among the Welsh, Northern Irish, and Scots-none of whom want to be called British -to the structure of British education and the differences among wedding and dining out rituals between the two countries, Hargis ends each chapter with a vocabulary list of British terms and those Americanisms that don''t translate across the pond. The book''s greatest value will be for those intending an extended stay in Great Britain, but it will prove useful for vacationers planning more than a few days in old Blighty. Recommended for academic libraries and public libraries with large travel collections.-Janet Ross, formerly with Sparks Branch Lib., NV Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. -- Janet Ross Library Journal

Amazingly thorough. If you don't know a plonker from a slapper or a berk from Joe Soap, this is the book for you. <br>-Joe Queenan, author of True Believers and Queenan Country <br><br> A godsend to Americans trying to negotiate the minefield of British life it will be like having a helpful British best friend in your pocket, to guide you through all the tricky bits. <br>-Kate Fox, author of Watching the English <br><br> Although I have traveled through the UK and written about it for years, I found myself reading RULES, BRITANNIA with the pleasure of a first-timer. Toni Summers Hargis answered questions I didn't even know I had, and I smiled in recognition of many of the small but very important nuances she points out. For anyone who wants to arrive in the UK armed with the knowledge of an insider, her book is well-organized, humorous and amazingly comprehensive. <br>--Susan Allen Toth, author of My Love Affair with England and England as You Like It <br>

Author Information

Toni Summers Hargis is a Brit, living in the United States. In a former life she was a business writer and organization development consultant, with a Law Degree from Bristol University, England and a Masters from Loyola University, Chicago. She currently serves as personal chef and chauffeur to her three children and writes in her spare time. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and children and visits the UK at least once a year.

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