The Anglo Files: A Field Guide To The British (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
I thought this book was OK. I couldn't help but think that she doesn't like the English. Things that I see as a positive, shops closed on Sundays, the trains, and yes, even the food, she sees as a negative. I've spent a lot of my life in England, both as a visitor and a resident, and my experience has not been the same as hers. I think the trains are amazing and that the food is good, if you know to eat in the pubs. People I know there are warm and do share their feelings. I liked the chapters about English eccentrics, especially the hedgehog lovers. I much preferred Watching the English. Lyall is very funny when she is observing British (really, English) culture through the lens of her own experiences; her discussion of England's weather is laugh-out-loud good. This isn't necessarily a humorous book, however, at least not in the same vein as Bryson. In examining different aspects of England's culture and temperament, Lyall is serious enough, quoting sources and referencing history. Still, this is a generally funny and easy read, perfect for a long flight (I almost finished flying from MD to CA).
What do You think about The Anglo Files: A Field Guide To The British (2008)?
Amusing. Some think it is mean-spirited toward the Brits, but I found it treated them fondly.
—siffy1111
Loved this book! Brought back so many memories of my expat years in London. Hail Britannia!
—babygirl
Highly entertaining and enlightening even if you don't know a single Brit!
—AJP
Starts strong, gets tedious and too cute.
—bakinka
