Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain (1942)

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  • Publisher: Bodleian Library
  • Catalogue: 137529
  • Size: 16x11cm
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'. This is that guide, “Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain” is a faithful reproduction of the original tome, taken from the depths of Oxfords world-renowned Bodleian library.

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. Refreshingly candid quips leap from the pages - in a most un-British fashion: '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' Every page is full of enchantingly nostalgic advice and observations. Reproduced in a style reminiscent of the era, this is a wonderfully evocative wartime memento.

The reader, from whatever country, will revel in the amusing and terrifically truthful American perception of the British character and country. This view of Britain may not have been the whole truth, but it was what people at the time wanted to believe and it has become firmly embedded in the fork memory of the Second World War ever since.

Remember: “The British are tough.”