Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent

“Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent” is comprised of a series of letters sent back and forth between Sherwood and Penelope, a young British couple who obviously adore each other.  Sherwood, a recruit in the British Army, has just been deployed to war.  Most of his letters recount his “exploits” on the battlefield.  Penelope’s letters are focused on the ways she has found to entertain herself while Sherwood is away, which include an excursion to Europe and the attending of various parties.  She also stresses how eager she is for him to become a hero.

Although Sherwood and Penelope are only portrayed through the letters they have written, I found them to be truly likeable characters.  Both are very naive and somewhat self-centered which greatly adds to the humor in this book.  The clever word choices the author uses provide even more entertainment.  It was fun seeing the characters misinterpret figurative speech by taking the meanings of the words literally.

Besides humor, Joel Bresler uses other methods to keep the reader entertained.  The letters written by both Penelope and Sherwood are very detailed so the reader can actually envision their surroundings.  The heartfelt ways in which they poured out their thoughts and feelings to each other were quite romantic.  I easily formulated a picture of this couple in my mind.  I would be interested in reading a sequel of this book in which the characters are together and can associate and interact with each other in person.  They definitely seem as if they would lead a fun and interesting life.

This work of fiction will appeal to a broad audience.  Although the time period in which this story is set is not given (according to the author it is “sometime after the Crusades and somewhat before that Falklands thing”), it is a timeless book that will entertain readers for many years to come.  It is very fast-paced and although it is centered around a war (a war truly unlike any other), is a light read.  “Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent” was difficult to put down.  I could not wait to see what adventure (or misadventure) would occur next.

Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent
Joel Bresler
Infinity Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780741445032
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (6/08)