Britannia in Brief Week: Interview with Co-Author William Mullins

To celebrate the forth day of Britannia in Brief week here at Anglotopia we have an exclusive interview with co-author Willaim Mullins. William is a displaced Brit living life in America with wife Leslie. You could say he’s a Brit out of water and his interview provides an exciting insight into how a Brit perceives Americans – and Anglophiles. Be sure to check out the rest of the posts from Britannia in Brief Week!

1. How did you and Leslie meet? (I’m asking you both the same question)

Our mothers were friends forever and Leslie’s mom would come stay with my parents sometimes in London, so I knew her but not Leslie. Leslie heard I’d just moved over to the US and invited me to her 30th birthday party on a whim. Sparks flew!

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

As a born and bred west Londoner it might be heresy to pick a neighborhood in north London but I have to admit, I love Primrose Hill. I lived there for a few months some years ago and really enjoyed the village-like atmosphere. Regent’s Park Road, the main shopping street has everything you could want: a couple of great restaurants, covering different budgets, a fabulous bookstore, a serviceable pub and a nearby tube station, and then of course there’s the hill itself, with absolutely fabulous views down across the city.

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

Interesting question! Growing up, pulling into Notting Hill Gate station always meant home, so that would have to be my favourite for sentimental reasons.

When I was young I was always taken by the tiny pub that used to be on the westbound platform at Sloane Square – I did manage to nip in once for a grossly-underaged drink before it finally closed in 1985. I remember someone once describing it as the only pub in London where it was acceptable for a man to order a half pint rather than a whole.

4. What do you think of Anglophiles? How are they perceived in Britain?

What’s not to love? America’s one of the last bastions of Anglophilia in the world. I mean, there was a revolution and that little matter of the Brits burning Washington to the ground, but America’s been spared the rampaging football hooligans and drunken package holiday types, (well, Florida’s not been entirely spared these,) who’ve done so much damage to the British brand in Europe and Asia.

Using the term in its broadest sense – Britannophiles, if there be such a word – the Scots, the Welsh, the Irish and even the northern English warmly welcome outsiders’ enthusiasm in their culture and country. The English are a bit different: they tend to be so down on their own country that they get suspicious of anyone else’s enthusiasm for it. Just give them time.

5. What advice would you have for British men who’d be interested in dating an American woman?

This is actually a remarkably challenging endeavour for the average British male. There really isn’t such a ritualized dating process in the UK as here. Sure, men and women will ask each other for out dinner – British men are generally much less forward than their American brethren – but there’s none of the road-mapped path through first, second, third date and so on. British courtship tends to involve a couple becoming good friends over ages, then getting drunk at a party and snogging followed, shortly after, by the two of them moving in together.

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

I remember as a child going to Caernarfon Castle in north west Wales and thinking it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen, but also a bit frightening, and also sort of fascinating as here I was in Britain surrounded by people talking a language other than English (Welsh). I’ve always wanted to revisit it.

Caernarfon Castle is best known as the site of Prince Charles’ investure as Prince of Wales back in 1969, though back in the 13th century Edward I’s son, the first Prince of Wales, was born here.

7. What do you miss the most about Britain?

You’re going to laugh at me, but I miss the weather. Leslie and I live in New England now, which has many similarities to old England – for example street plans here generally follow the British tradition of being laid out along meandering old cow paths rather than the usual American strict grid – but also big differences. The extremes in weather here, and throughout most of the states, are vast in comparison to the jet-stream warmed British Isles, and the places with a steady temperature, like Los Angeles, are by and large too hot. San Francisco is the only place with a suitably damp and mild year round temperature that I’ve experienced, (but then I’ve not visited Seattle or Portland which strike me as likely contenders.)

8. What’s the most maddening difference between America and Britain you’ve experienced living here.

Easy one that: having people I’ve never met before start calling me “Bill”.

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

The book could have been three times as long! Fortunately our editor at Random House offered an unbiased and Anglophilic eye and helped us trim the book down to its current length. The inspiration for our blog was to provide an outlet for this overflow and the occasional “Darn, we should have included that” things that pop up.

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?

The wonder of the internet is that you can pick bits from all the different papers. I’ve long been an Independent reader, following it through its up and downs, but now I really only read the hilarious Mark Steel and the insightful Robert Fisk. The Guardian’s become a great paper, a lot more cosmopolitan than in the past. When I’m in London, there’s nothing better than an afternoon pint in the pub with the Evening Standard.

Thanks for some great answers William!

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.