Britannia in Brief Week: Interview With Author Leslie Banker

 Our Second article in our week long Britannia in Brief Series is an interview with one of it’s authors, Leslie Banker. Leslie is married to her co-author William Mullins (interview Thursday!) and they decided to write Britannia in Brief due to the the culture shock of what it’s like being married to a Brit. Below are our questions for Leslie and her wonderful answers. In the interview she reveals that, initially, she was more of a Francophile than an Anglophile (shock!), her living in London fantasy and her favorite places to visit in Britain.

1. How did you and William meet?

It’s kind of an arranged marriage. Our mothers have been friends since they were young. William and I didn’t really know each other when we growing up because he was in London and I was in the New York. The first and only time I met William as a kid was July, 1978 when my parents and I went to London and stayed with his family. I was 8-years-old at the time and William was about 9.

I remember the date because something deeply embarrassing happened. Our parents left me, William, and his sister in the den watching TV. Since there were only about 3 TV stations at that time we ended up watching the BBC news where all the headline reports were about the first test tube baby being born. I remember wondering aloud “How do they do that?” and getting from William an answer that was much more than I bargained for starting with: “Well, the man pulls down his pants.” I still cringe thinking about it.

Then, in his late 20s he moved to the US and a couple years later I invited him to my 30th birthday party and that was that.

2. What’s your favorite London Neighborhood? Why?

I love Notting Hill. In my moving-to-London-day-dream we live in Notting Hill (or possibly Primrose Hill in North London). It’s certainly not out of the way, or a best kept secret, but it’s got great restaurants, shops, and is within walking distance to Kensington Gardens and Holland Park, two of my favorite London parks.

3. What’s your favorite London Tube Stop? Why?

They all are because, unlike in New York, they tell you the time remaining until the next train arrives. This eliminates so much stress. The Tube stations seem generally cleaner than the New York subway stations though I’m fascinated that the seats on many (all?) of the Tube trains are covered in fabric. While it does make the trains cozier, I wonder if and how they ever clean the fabric.

4. Were you/are you an Anglophile? What got you interested in Britain?
What’s your Anglophile story?

True confession: Up until a few years ago, I would have said I was more of a Francophile than an Anglophile. In the last few years though we’ve visited the UK a bunch of times and, between that and writing Britannia in Brief, I’ve come to love the UK. We went to Cornwall to visit William’s cousins and it was just so beautiful there. I love how London is such a big international multi-cultural city. Because of William, I actually like Marmite now and become almost as bent out of shape as he does when we run out.

5. What advice would you have for women who are interested in dating a
British Guy?

Bait your trap with Twiglets and Malteasers. I think a major advantage that I had in the early dating days with William was that I lived one block away from Carry On Tea and Sympathy on Greenwich Avenue in New York where they sell all manner of British candies and crisps.

Also, I’d suggest reading Britannia in Brief! Part of why we wrote the book was because I didn’t know what William was talking about when, for example, he’d say a house that looks small from the outside but is spacious on the inside was like a TARDIS. A what?! The idea is the book will give you the info to catch these sorts of references that your British Guy will be making.

6. You’re standing in a train station in London and you can go anywhere in Britain, where would you go?

Edinburgh. William went to university there and loved it, so this has made me want to get to know the city. Also, I have this Scottish Highlands fantasy where we rent a house with a bunch of friends and go on long walks in the morning, spend afternoons at the local pub, then sit in front of the fire in the evening.

7. Whose idea was it to write this book?

I think it was both of our ideas. When we were engaged we went to London for a friend of William’s wedding. During this visit we ended up at a few dinner parties where at times I didn’t know what the other guests were talking about. On that visit, which was now four years ago, we started a list of all my questions and things I wished I’d known. I still have the list, it starts with: “ASBO?”

8. Is there anything you wish you could have included in the book?

We had to cut out a bunch of television programs as there just wasn’t enough space. Also, I would have loved to delve deeper into regional histories and characteristics but again we just didn’t have the space.

9. Would you consider writing a sequel?

We’d love to.

10. I really enjoyed the section of the book on British Newspapers – something we’ve covered in the past – so, I must ask the question –  Which British Newspaper do you read?

Well, for quite a while I was addicted to the Daily Mail, which caused some tension in our household. (When Jade Goody was sick I checked it daily for updates). William, who aspires to be more highbrow, has insisted that I stop peppering our blog with so many links to the right-wing Daily Mail. So, I’ve branched out. The Daily Mirror is great for a tabloid fix and the Guardian is a terrific real-news read. Also, I greatly enjoy some of the blogs that the Guardian runs.

Britiannia in Brief – The Scoop on All Things British – was written by Leslie Banker and William Mullins. It’s the ultimate guide to Britain for Anglophiles! To purchase Britannia in Brief: The Scoop on All Things British – click here. And be sure to check out their great blog here.