Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent

by Joel Bresler

Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent recounts the hilarious (and historically-set) misadventures of Sherwood, a recruit in H. Majesty's army; and Penelope, his bit-of-all-right back home. Through their letters, they share incidents and events, and discuss their relationship, which looks good on paper, but... Sherwood describes to Penelope in vivid, comic detail his experiences as a soldier, from training camp up to and beyond an epic mission. Penelope's attempts to keep from pining for Sherwood to a really inconvenient degree get her out of the house a lot - with just about everybody! Their separate adventures come together to form the climax (for lack of a better term) of their story.

Genres: Humor

112 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2008

About the author

Joel Bresler was born and spent most of his life to date in and around Cleveland, Ohio. After earning a degree from Skidmore College, he worked briefly in social services before entering into a niche field of business consulting. His first published work, "Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent", established him as a humor writer with a unique voice. "Letters" was quickly followed up by "Sunderwynde Revisited", Sunderwynde Revisited, Again", "The Moskowitz Code" and "Bottomless Cups". In the tradition of such heavyweights as P.G. Wodehouse, Evelyn Waugh and Douglas Adams, Bresler holds his own writing to a very high comedic standard. Which is not to imply that he is above throwing in any moderately-interesting pun that might find its way from pen to paper. He can lately be found deep in the desert Southwest, dodging snakes and cactus spines and "dry" heat.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing shall hinder the romance of Penelope and Sherwood, not the horrors of war OR a leg-humping dog.

This epistolary novella explores familiar territory - He marches off to war while She keeps the home fires burning, but you've never seen it explored quite this way before.

Poor Penelope's letters describe how she keeps her loneliness for Sherwood at bay by a series of distractions - parties, travel and extremely distracting boy-toys, many of them named Jean-Something. Sherwood, meanwhile, is busy marching strolling around the countryside, looking for a war (any war will do) and avoiding colliding with trees. (It's much more difficult than it sounds.)

This is an immensely enjoyable, fast read with a surprise ending.

God save the Queen!

[Lisa Shiroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny. If you love inane ramblings, quirky characters, and British humor (a la American-style), this is the book for you. It's an epistolary novel featuring not-quite love letters between a quasi-soldier and his quasi-faithful girl back home. You could see the book as a snarky and satirical commentary on the rationale behind war and the feckless attitudes of those back home or you could just read it to have fun. I recommend the latter.

[Gina Fernandes Raves · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hilarious book, to be honest i gave it a bash not expecting much....it was hilarious,funny and ever so good

[Kathy Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hilarious romp is a must read for those who like comedies of manners of the Wodehousean type. Bresler got everything right, and his characters, Penelope and Sherwood, are delightful parodies of the brave warrior and his faithful love back home. The author's use of the epistolary style (letters back and forth) was a perfect choice to tell this very entertaining story.

[Contentmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Heavy Laughter Ahead
Acerbic, witty, funny and massively entertaining. If you like smart humor, don't miss this book!

[Michael E. Schulte Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just too funny

Having heard many letters home (being retired Army myself) I found this book more or less a comedic replay of days past in combat when we called it "snail mail". Mis communication abounds and assumptions made . Just too funny, could not put it down. Fantastic fun short read.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some novels tell tragedies of love and loss with prose so ephemeral grownups weep at the words. Others overflow with love triumphant, sparkling and golden. This book is different.

Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent details two young people driven apart as one travels off to war (consisting entirely of getting lost, undergoing army pranks, filling free time, and interrogating people without a common language). The other is, sadly left at home with nothing to do but languish in despair (while traveling off-color style on her family's money and making a host of flirtatious new friends.) Still, they're deeply in love. Apparently.

What could make this romantic farce sillier yet? Well, reading it with the accent comes to mind. But add in a traitor, a spy, an allegedly handmade sweater (with the tags still in), dance-happy soldiers, "Not Gang Very Aft Agly Day," and many overly-attentive French guides called Jean, and we've descended into pure comedy.

The lovers, with their gushing prose are hysterical. "I can just picture you dragging your battle-worn form through all manner of positively ghastly conditions," Penelope writes. "You could even be killed! Oh, Sherwood, wouldn't that be glorious?"

Sherwood, meanwhile, is just looking for activities to pad out his rigorous army schedule, from marching up and down England looking for France to accidentally invading France while seeking war "in the desert" and "sometime after the Crusades." Puns fill the pages, ranging from groaners to super-groaners. It keeps its silliness as poor Sherwood finally does go to war and discovers the dastardly truth behind his mission. As a spoof of romantic correspondences of love and war, it's not to be missed!

[John Sibley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could very well be the antidote for what ails modern people. It's the perfect read after you get pulled aside at an airport for a complete strip search. Or for the day your car won't start when you have an important meeting at work. Or right after the principal at your kids' school phones and wants to see you NOW. At times like these that you want to just enter the gentle funny world of Penelope and Sherwood whose gentle letters are to be read, of course, in a heavy British accent. You will calm down, feel better, and get a grin on face. Thank you for that, Joel Bresler.

[Rodney Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We follow along the adventures of the daft but loveable hero on his quest to be worthy of his fair consort. Meet Penelope who bides her time waiting for the protagonist by becoming an excellent “host” to the local menfolk. If you like Pratchett type humor, you’ll love this book. If you don’t, it’s still an adorable story.

[Jane]

Daft. Fast read.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This epistolary novel is written between a couple, Penelope and Sherwood, as he fails to be a military man and she fails to be a faithful partner. The tongue-in-cheek asides are laugh-out-loud funny, and the narrative is so outrageous and mischievous that one can't help but be delighted.