Norton News

On his quirky journey through the language, geography and national character of the United States, Terry Eagleton proves to be an informal and utterly idiosyncratic guide. He answers the questions we (being British) dare not ask, like why Americans willingly rise at the crack of dawn, even on Sundays or why they publicly chastise cigarette smokers as if they’re all spokespeople for the surgeon general. In this pithy, warm-hearted and very funny book, Eagleton melds a good old-fashioned roast with genuine admiration for his neighbours "across the pond".

"Terry Eagleton has a gift for the kind of generalizations that at first appear outrageous but seem, on reflection, annoyingly perceptive. Were I one of the expressive Americans he describes, I’d call this book awesome; as a constipated Brit, I’m inclined to say that it is not at all bad."
Henry Hitching

"...Terry Eagleton's far from unfunny new book..."
London Review of Books  >> more

June 2013 • Paper • £9.99 • ISBN 978 0 393 34764 7 • 192pp • 140 x 210mm