Reviews and Blog Posts: England

England, Great Britain, United Kingdom: What's the Difference?

Submitted by Janet on July 20, 2012 - 5:15pm
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Map of the UK: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

Sometimes you find answers in unexpected places. I found the most succinct description I've ever seen of how England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom relate to each other in a library newsletter about travel guidebooks:

  • London is the capital of England.
  • England is a country.
  • Britain is an area that consists of England and the country of Wales.
  • Great Britain is the name of the island that is home to the countries of England, Wales, and Scotland.
  • The United Kingdom (UK) is a country that is a union of the countries on the island of Great Britain, along with the country of Northern Ireland (which shares the island of Ireland with the Republic of Ireland.)
  • [The Republic of Ireland is] a separate country that is not part of the UK.
  • London is also the capital of the UK.

Is there strength in the bond between human beings and animals?

Submitted by Gina on September 26, 2011 - 6:28pm
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The Elephant Keeper Book Cover

Explore the bond between animal and human in all its depth and beauty . . .

I love animals, and my heart has a special spot for the mighty, intelligent elephant. As I browsed through the stacks one day, I found The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson. What a treasure!

The Royal Treatment

Submitted by SarahH on January 18, 2011 - 8:38pm
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Royal Film

It pays to play the king (or queen, as the case may be.) Whether it's comedy or drama, on television or the big screen, we love a good portrayal of the British royal family. And a small number of talented actors and actresses have been rewarded for just that--delivering award-winning performances as British monarchs.

I've been a Colin Firth fan since I first saw him in Shakespeare in Love as the snobby and sniveling Lord Wessex, and I've been an Anglophile for as long as I can remember, so there was no way I was going to miss him play the stammering King George VI in The King's Speech. I saw it this past weekend, and it actually rendered me speechless--a rare moment. Firth is magnificent in this clever film, which is about much more than George's speaking difficulties.

The Best of British Television

Submitted by Tara on July 20, 2010 - 10:03am
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No Cable? No Problem! The library has a premium selection of TV shows! The BBC, BBC America, ITV and other British channels have produced riveting dramatic, comedic and science fiction television shows. See what's on across the pond! Which is your favorite?

One Day - July 15th

Submitted by Michelle on July 15, 2010 - 7:58pm
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I woke up this morning and realized that today is July 15th, a major theme of the novel I'm currently reading - One Day by British author, David Nicholls. I can't tell you everything since I'm only in the middle of it but I couldn't resist writing about it on this day.

Nicholls follows two characters over twenty years of July 15ths, tracing the path of their changing lives and relationship. They say if you like Nick Hornby, author of A Long Way Down, About a Boy, and High Fidelity, you'll love this. ; It's all the rage in the UK. I don't have a verdict yet but am compelled enough to keep going - it's easy summer fare.

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