Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, 1942
Reproduced from the original typescript, War Department, Washington, DC
Distributed for Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
The guide was intended to alleviate the culture shock for soldiers taking their first trip to Great Britain, or, for that matter, abroad. The handbook is punctuated with endearingly nostalgic advice and refreshingly candid quips such as: "The British don't know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don't know how to make a good cup of tea. It's an even swap." By turns hilarious and poignant, many observations featured in the handbook remain relevant even today.
Reproduced in a style reminiscent of the era, Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain is a powerfully evocative war-time memento that offers a unique perspective on the longstanding American-British relationship and reveals amusingly incisive American perceptions of the British character and country.
"as much a guide to the American psyche, as to the British... The guide's apparant simplicity belies its complexity. It deserves to be a set text in schools and universities, and should be compulsory reading for all philologists." --Eluned Price, The Daily Telegraph
"A book warning US soldiers about British pecularities has become a surprise bestseller -- 60 years after it was first published."
"Its tips may be based on the stereotypical -- and probably mythical -- Englishman, but they seem to ring true and are delivered with surprising wit. . . . a real gem."
Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, issued by the War Department, Washington, D.C., 1942
Introduction
The Country
The People—Their Customs and Manners
Britain at War
English Versus American Language
Some Important Do’s and Don’ts
Table of British currency
History: American History | British and Irish History | Military History
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