To find this book involved wading through a fair few listings
for romantic or political books that wanted to cover their own types of special
relationship. The attraction for me is the rest of the title, The
Americanisation of Britain.
Most focus on the special relationship centres on the Second
World War and the close ties as allies between the UK and US. That's true but
Susan Marling argues that the crucial year when things really changed was 1956.
By then Americans were driving round in their flash finned topped cars, chugging
on a Coke from their large refrigerators
and enjoying their televisions. Britain, still suffering the effects of
post-war austerity could only look on with envy. Add to that the flowing over
the Atlantic of rock and roll, Elvis and the stars of the silver screen that
flickered in British cinemas and the captivation with all things American was complete.
This books bounces along looking at areas where
Americanisation can be easily spotted - movies, cars, fashion, architecture
(malls and Milton Keynes) and food.
The tone is inquisitive, asking a truck driver from North
London why he enjoys dressing as a cowboy complete with chaps and an imitation
revolver, rather than judgemental. However, there is an acknowledgement that
Americanisation splits people, with comments about the 51st State being among
those arguing for less influence.
Written in the early 1990s, with Thatcher having left
office, this is a book that sits at a time when the heightened Americanisation
of the Thatcher-Reagan years could still be felt. A dreary Britain that often
willingly adopted the neon-lighted delights from the US.
It is a companion piece to a Tv series, American Affair,
that I have to admit I haven’t seen. So in some senses the chapters must have
followed the progress of those episodes. What lifts the book out as something
you might want to read now, without the programme, isn’t just the text but the
photographs by Gerd Kittel.
Each chapter follows a pattern where the text goes so far
and then the photographs take over and illustrate the points. Given they are
thirty years old they now operate on a historical as well as cultural commentary
level.
To be honest this is not a book anyone wanting to read more
about the special relationship would start with. For me it’s part of my ongoing
look into American suburbanisation and its impact on the UK. It scratches that
itch but it’s quite a specific one and so I would not expect this to be sought
out by too many fellow readers.
But if you want to understand more about the love affair
with America and what that like looked in the early 1990s then it’s a great
resource and an interesting read.
