Today I'm thinking the theme is English English, you know, what they speak across the pond. :-)

In the usual pattern of things I read a book and then might go see it if it's made into a movie. In this case, I saw The King's Speech first (with that amazing ending with Beethoven's 7th (second movement) as the background music) and then read the book. It's the one by Lionel Logue's grandson, who had much of the material Lionel had kept, and then searched for more letters, journals, newspaper articles and so on to write his book. The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi goes into more detail than the movie and includes Lionel's time in Australia. While new and rather novel at the time, many of the techniques used by Logue in the movie are used today. (I had a floor mate in college who did so).

For a delightful and funny look at English English vs American English, read That's Not English: Britishisms, Americanisms, and What Our English Says About Us, by Erin Moore. The author is a citizen of both countries and has wonderful observations about each. It will become clear why there is so much confusion between countries that speak the same language! (George Bernard Shaw was correct, England and America are two countries divided by a common language). :-)

Another take on this may be found in Brit-Think, Ameri-Think: a Transatlantic Survival Guide (Revised Edition), by Jane Walmsley. I especially enjoyed the chapters on what to do, or not do, in each country. Possibly a bit dated in places, the publication date was 2003, but that might apply mostly to the bits about politics.

I could not pass up a book called Knickers in a Twist: a Dictionary of British Slang, by Jonathan Bernstein, and guess what? It seems all those years of watching Masterpiece Theatre, listening to CBC Radio, and having a good Canadian friend have paid off ... I am familiar with a lot of British slang! A real corker of a book! ;-)

Reading Hermit With Dog