Britty Britty Bang Bang: One Man's Attempt to Understand His Country

By: Hugh Dennis

Narrated by: Hugh Dennis

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Mock the Week and Outnumbered's Hugh Dennis with an hilarious and insightful exploration of the changing image of Britain and Britishness.

Hugh Dennis has secretly been worrying about what being "British" meant for nearly a decade, ever since his friend Ardal O'Hanlon had told him in passing that he was the most British person he had ever met. Hugh was unclear whether he was being praised, teased, vaguely insulted, or possibly all three - because it has always been very difficult to know how to feel about being British.

And then the London Olympics came along. We gave the world a gleaming new vision of Britain; a smiling Britain of achievement, a Britain responsible for leading the world into the modern era through the Agrarian and Industrial Revolutions, a nation proud to embrace multiculturalism, individuality, and eccentricity. A country where a major politician can dangle helplessly from a zip wire like a discarded straw dolly and gain in popularity, and whose Queen can send herself up and then descend by parachute.

The unexpected legacy of the Games has been a Britain with a new found self-confidence in which we all know how to be British. A Britain which should be embarrassed by nothing and proud of everything, from sheep to chimneys to the Spice Girls to industrial action and what had always previously been described as our "ailing transport network". A Britain which having been pinned firmly in its own half, has dribbled the length of the field, nutmegged the defenders, unleashed a curling dipping shot into the top right-hand corner, scored a wonder goal and is now kissing the badge.

This is Hugh Dennis' exploration of the changing image of Britain and Britishness.

©2013 Hugh Dennis (P)2013 Headline Digital

Informative and entertaining read

If you enjoy Hugh Dennis' laid-back approach and the light-hearted tone to his voice, then this is the audiobook for you. You will learn a lot of surprising information about Britain and its people through history, and the present day. The clearly defined subjects for each chapter mean you can dip in and out if you so wish. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Google It!

I like Hugh Dennis, and he does an excellent job of narrating his own book here, as he has done with the tomes of others when drafted in to read BBC Radio 4's "Book of the Week" on more than one occasion.

The idea is a good one - what IS it that makes the British feel that they stand apart? He explores this using a thematic structure - food, weather, sport etc.The content is even interesting for the most part and I learned some stuff I didn't know.

Here's the rub though; it is not an audiobook I'd listen to again in a hurry because the overriding thought I had as I listened along was that I was merely listening to one man's internet surfing results. I had this mental picture of Mr Dennis sat in front of his computer late at night just filtering the results that Google turned up when he entered his chosen search terms.

It's a pity, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted too. He's an engaging author with a good book in him I'm sure, so I hope that he has another go.

Disappointing

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Vapid and unfunny. Waste of money and time. Hugh Dennis reads it quite nicely, though.

What could Hugh Dennis have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Better content - either cleverer or funnier.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Hugh Dennis?

It was very well read.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Nicely read.

Any additional comments?

I want my credit back.

Light but interesting book

What did you like best about Britty Britty Bang Bang: One Man's Attempt to Understand His Country? What did you like least?

I wanted something light to listen to during a hospital stay. I enjoyed the book and was just what I was after but I think if I had read it when on top-form it would have been less engaging. There were some parts that made me laugh aloud but on the whole is mildly amusing rather than side-splitting.

Quietly funny

What did you like most about Britty Britty Bang Bang: One Man's Attempt to Understand His Country?

It is an easy listen to book with a quietly funny and quirky style, a mixture of truth and tall tales which at times made me laugh out loud.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Britty Britty Bang Bang: One Man's Attempt to Understand His Country?

Descriptions of sport and the rules of support I found amusing and informative.

What about Hugh Dennis’s performance did you like?

Hugh Dennis voice he delivers the book at a really thoughtful pace and he is so easy to listen to. Unlike some narrators who can get in the way of the story he didn't.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

In search of the English, they came, they saw and they left puzzled, slightly confused but with a suspicion someone somewhere was laughing quietly.

Any additional comments?

About 2 thirds through the book loses some impetus but I`d still recommend you buy it it is fun.

Excellent listen

Very informative and educational with added humor. A book you could easily listen to twice.

Decent listen.

I love Hugh Dennis as a comedian and whilst an interesting historical take on understanding Britain, I felt dissatisfied with the quality of Hugh Dennis humour being interwoven into the narrative. I wish there were more jokes. Other than that, a decent listen.

Its very funny

well Hugh Dennis wrote it what else could you expect but 7 hours of chuckling away to yourself

brilliant

A man with access to google does not a book make.

A shame, I'm a big fan of Hugh and had high hopes for a good car journey book. He literally reads out entries from wikipedia for the first hour. I don't know what this book is trying to be, it's not a Bill Bryson-esque travel and witticism exercise. Avoid, sadly. Go for one of the Stuart Maconie books instead.

very entertaining

great book, pure Hugh dennis at his best . very funny and we'll read thanks