March 17, 2021: Anglophilia? Sounds like a disease. In fact, the definition by Merriam Webster: Unusual admiration or partiality for England, English ways, or things English.
Lost in the Pond: Why are There so Many American Anglophiles
Millions of Americans have visited Britain, but as recently as the early 20th century, Americans still resented the British. Remember the Revolutionary War? Despite tensions in our early history, much of American culture derives from the settlers who moved to the New World from England. The passage of time has brought a sense of mutual respect between the two countries.
World War I set the foundations for what Churchill later called the “special relationship” between the two nations. Stars aligned: Two imperial forces came together because of unfolding history and mutual benefits of a post-war world. Following the German defeat in 1918, President Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and France’s Georges Clemenceau, met at the Paris Peace Conference, bringing about the creation of the League of Nations, whose primary mission was to prevent any world conflict again.
Shared language is something both parties can relate to. Noah Webster, responsible for standardizing American English with his dictionary, insisted Americans must speak English because of its connections to great literature. Following the defeat of Germany and Japan in WWII, trade between the U. S. and Britain accelerated, including art, music, and literature–from Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones took America by storm, opening the door for later acts. In 1953, interest in the Royal family grew exponentially, as Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne.
Americans, still searching for some sort of palpable identity, continue to look up to Britain as one would an older sibling, one who is wise, experienced, and more eloquent, but whose otherwise many flaws are all too often overlooked. May we overlook them a little longer.
Famous Anglophiles:
There are other people out there like us, people obsessed with England and the island of Great Britain. People who would rather don a tweed cap and have a cup of tea than put on a baseball cap and drink a beer. We love England for some mostly unexplainable reason. Here’s a list of famous people who have the same affliction:
TOM CLANCY often writes lovingly about England in his novels. His most famous hero, Jack Ryan, is an Anglophile and London often plays an important role in his stories.
JOHNNY DEPP may live in the south of France, but he’s a known Anglophile. Oftentimes he’ll work on projects that are being shot and made in England.
MADONNA and GWYNETH PALTROW love England so much they went local. They both married Brits, though the marriages didn’t last.
GEORGE TAKEI: Yes, Sulu is an Anglophile. George Takei, made famous by his role on the original Star Trek Series, is a confessed Anglophile.
KATE BOSWORTH recently admitted that she’s a total Anglophile when it comes to men.
KIM CATTRALL was born in Liverpool and moved to Canada as a child. She lives in London now prefers to work in Britain. She posed nude to help save the Titian paintings that were going up for sale by their owner, if they weren’t bought by the Scottish National Gallery.
MIKE MYERS is a consummate Anglophile as well. His most famous role, Austin Powers, is a play on British Spy novel tradition and pokes great fun at British culture and civilization. Myers is actually Canadian and also holds British Citizenship thanks to his parents, who were born in Liverpool.
DREW BARRYMORE is also a confessed Anglophile, visiting often.
COURTNEY LOVE: Music wild child and former spouse of the late Kurt Cobain is known to be an Anglophile.
GILLIAN ANDERSON was actually raised in the UK. A few years ago, she returned to England and moved into a swank flat in hip Notting Hill.
QUENTIN TARANTINO is a committed Anglophile and is known to have an encyclopedia knowledge of British Cinema.
10 Things Americans Love About Living In Britain.
Every day may bring a new adventure living in Britain. Here’s a list of the most common things Americans fall in love with:
- Accents: British accents feel like cotton candy for your ears. The dullest story sounds lovely. The thickest person sounds brilliant. Our American accents draw people in, too.
- PLU: “People Like Us.” Brits are misconstrued as stuffy but really are a welcoming crowd.
- Sincerity: Brits don’t take compliments well. If a compliment makes it your way, it is genuine.
- Wit: Dry wit. It wouldn’t be GB if everyone was on their best behavior.
- History: Its magnificent museums hold plenty of stories. The stellar architecture, ranging from Roman ruins to 5th century cathedrals to row houses on cobblestoned streets, is history itself. It’s everywhere!
- Royals: Read above!
- High-speed trains and flights to Europe: Gets to Paris by high-speed train in two hours, or catch a train at London’s King’s Cross and travel throughout England or Scotland.
- Grocery stores: The stores are smaller than a typical U.S. grocery store, thus more manageable.
- Topping up: “Can I top up?” is a phrase you will be hearing yourself saying a lot. It means getting that little bit more, and it makes life a bit easier and situations way more pleasant. Go to the phone shop, and ask to “top up” your minutes. At the pub, “top up” your pint.
- Christmas: The Brits started celebrating “the holidays” even before Christ was born. Festivals took place in winter to praise the sun and hope for its return.
What do you love about England?
If you’ve never been, what would you most like to see or do there?
Let me know below!
