A Yank Back to England: The Prodigal Tourist Returns

By Denis Lipman

Book Overview

Denis Lipman left London's East End for Washington, DC more than 20 years ago, but made an annual pilgrimage year after year to visit aging parents, a pair of cantankerous, real-life Cockneys. He endured the visits as best he could. Enter an American wife. Not content with a grin-and-bear-it attitude, she declares that since the trip to England was inevitable, then it was to be enjoyed: see things, go places Against his will, our expat becomes a tourist in his homeland and discovers it's not so bad after all, certainly better than remembered Here is a travel memoir more carbolic than bucolic. Discover a place where the sun doesn't always shine, where going to the loo can be an adventure, and where canned beans on toast is a cornerstone of cuisine. Taste the real East End and tour with a colorful group as they rent cottages, host outrageous relatives, meet the locals and discover the English countryside.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1934848247
• ISBN13: 9781934848241
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: GemmaMedia
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Loved it!!!!

I have to tell you, I could not put this book down for a minute. It's filled with an array of wonderful real life family characters that you can relate to in such a personal way. Denis and his lovely wife Frances and little girl Kate take you through England as if you yourself were a stow away. There are so many heartfelt, humorous and real moments that touch your heart and move you to tears. I honestly was so upset when I got to the end because I wanted to hear more about their adventures and family life. (Lew and Jessie actually remind me of my Hungarian folks..hahah) I sure would love to see this become a movie or T.V. series. An audio version of this would be great as well and very entertaining on road trips. Absolutely charming and endearing a MUST read!!!!! Sincerely, Elizabeth H. North Carolina, USA

Pure Enjoyment!

Denis Lipman's book, "A Yank Back to England" was an extremely welcome Christmas gift. I started reading it immediately and was just as quickly drawn into the descriptive and lively stories that Denis tells of his travels back to England with Frances - his American wife - and later, with their young daughter Kate. For me, this was the kind of book where you say: "I don't want this to end." I could not put his book down and read it all in less than two days. This book is so much more than a travel book or memoir -- it is written like a novel, with memorable scenes, lovable characters, and witty dialogue. And, what humor! It is a book that made me smile or gave me a laugh on just about every page. Pure enjoyment! This reader is already looking forward to his next book.

One of the best of the year!

I'm a Britophile and I write a blog dedicated to Great Britain called Smitten by Britain. I've read and reviewed many books about Britain in the last year, and this is one of the very best. I found Denis' book a real joy to read and I would have to agree with actor Michael York's review - it does read like a Dickens novel. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments here, most of them involving his colorful parents, while Denis' wife Frances, takes it all in stride. I used to live in England and Denis's book took me back to that green and pleasant land. I felt like I was right there with the Lipmans in their front lounge drinking tea, walking the streets of Dagenham and visiting the local attractions. It was interesting to see England through the eyes of a returning ex-pat, after years of living in the U.S. If you want to experience England and English life as it really is and not through a guide book, A Yank Back to England is the book to read.

Amusing, Laugh Out Loud funny, and bittersweet -- brilliant!!!

This book is one of the best reads I have had in recent years. It follows Denis Lipman's return to England with his American wife, and chronicles their multiple years of visits with the author's East End Cockney parents. Mix 2 parts DICKENS with one part ANGELA's ASHES with 3 parts YEAR IN PROVENCE -- and you begin to get the essence of YANK BACK TO ENGLAND. It begs to be an audio book and even more, this book is destined to become a movie. (I nominate Colin Firth to play Denis.) Though every chapter takes you to out of the way places in the English Countryside, this isn't just a travel book. It's a story of family, of coming home, of rediscovery and finally of love -- told with wit, wry insight and affection.

Absolutely delightful!

Charming and engaging, A Yank Back to England made me long to visit England again. In this humorous memoir, Denis Lipman provides an inside look at life outside of London, when he returns to his childhood home in Dagenham with his American wife and infant daughter. His parents, Lew and Jessie, are delightfully cockney and full of life; Lipman draws them perfectly and takes us on a wild ride through the English countryside as he rediscovers his homeland with his family in tow. I savored every word, enjoying the descriptions of the food (smoked kippers, fried black pudding, baked beans), the castles and cottages, the winding roads, the hedgerows and gardens, all of which made me want to hop the next plane to Heathrow. An absolutely delightful read!