Dear Henry: Letters from the Lowlands [Paperback]

Brian A. Bramson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

An informative, tongue-in-cheek look at the Dutch and their wondrous ways. Written in a humorous style with a gentleman’s touch, "Dear Henry" captures the quirky ways of the Dutch from a typically British viewpoint.

The book is a compilation of 24 letters—one a month over a two-year period—from a British expatriate in Holland (Uncle Brian) to his sheltered nephew (Henry), preparing Henry for his impending arrival in the Netherlands. Written with skill, insight, and a large dose of culture-shock wit, this book is a must-read for anyone with social ties to either or both countries.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

As publisher of "The UnDutchables" (a best-seller in the Netherlands since 1990), we are delighted and proud to bring you Brian Bramson's clever and hilarious "Dear Henry" letters. They are brilliant, fun and insightful.

Product Details

• Paperback: 158 pages
• Publisher: Colin White & Laurie Boucke (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888580194
• ISBN-13: 978-1888580198
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,322,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very therapeutic, April 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Henry: Letters from the Lowlands (Paperback)

I have personally witnessed the great nation of the Netherlands reduce a great Englishman to a quivering wreck. Make that two Englishmen, and two quivering wrecks.

So it was sort of a relief to see so many of my pet hates (pet peeves in US speak) splashed across the pages of this short but sweet book.

The mindless perkiness, the mandatory kissing rounds, the coffee culture, the national sport that is greed, mopeds, typical Dutch rudeness, and many more aspects of living in Nederland are therapeutically dealt with in the letters. If it had been me writing, I'd not have been half as friendly, or half as clever. It takes discipline not to tackle the subject of living in Holland with a proverbial sledgehammer.

Indeed, when a country brings one to remark that one would only go back there with enriched uranium, it's time for some damage control.

So rather than physically and gruesomely attack the next 16-year-old moped-riding, chain-smoking, opinionated, see-through-blond, overfed and overcaffeinated youth that crosses my path, by beating him with a wheel of aged Gouda, I will retreat to some private place with a cup of hot tea and my copy of 'Dear Henry.'

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Funny, January 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Henry: Letters from the Lowlands (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading the book tremendously. Brian's humour is in the great English tradition of geniuses like Ben Elton, Tom Sharpe and John Cleese. Not to mention Benny Hill. Oh, no sorry, I mean: don't mention Benny Hill. As to the ending, a touch of the surreal. Really, could it be, would it work? Could a real Englishman do what Henry did?

A must read for anyone who wants to enter the collective psyche of those two great peoples, the English and the ummm.... ummm... for anyone who wants to enter the psyche of those two strange peoples, the English and the Dutch.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Funny, December 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Henry: Letters from the Lowlands (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading the book tremendously. Brian's humour is in the great English tradition of geniuses like Ben Elton, Tom Sharpe and John Cleese. Not to mention Benny Hill. Oh, no sorry, I mean: don't mention Benny Hill. As to the ending, a touch of the surreal. Really, could it be, would it work? Could a real Englishman do what Henry did?

A must read for anyone who wants to enter the collective psyche of those two great peoples, the English and the ummm.... ummm... for anyone who wants to enter the psyche of those two strange peoples, the English and the Dutch.