How JKR depicts how we all live in England (Was Re: British V American)

[Jospehine]

No: HPFGUIDX 101742

All the discussions about the differences between the UK books and 
the American versions got me thinking. I personally am a firm 
believer that there never should have been an 'American' version, and 
yes, I know that children in the US may not understand all of the UK 
words and phrases, but surely that's the perfect opportunity to ask 
and find out? But anyway, I digress. 

The other day I was at a champagne reception at one of our West End 
theatres and got talking to a lovely American woman who was visiting 
from New York. She was, luckily, a great HP fan and ultra friendly as 
most visitors are from the US. However, I got knocked for six when 
she asked me if I was caned when I was at school. I'm sure she was 
thinking about Harry's made up discipline at St. Brutus'. My eyes 
widened as I explained, very politely, that caning has been banned in 
the UK for quite some time.

I think we would all agree that JKR is the most famous writer to come 
out of England for decades. The whole world reads her descriptions of 
an, albeit make believe, English boy living in the UK. However, what 
sometimes causes my heart to miss a beat is that I think she feels it 
is necessary to include such *sterotypical* English moments and 
words. Don't get me wrong. I love the books. But the whole world 
reads these books and thinks they are given and insight into our 
little island. And I'm grateul for JKR putting us more firmly on the 
map. But I'm sure that many people still think that our schools are 
run by stuffy old men in bowler hats (again thanks JKR), with canes, 
who summon you into their office for a jolly good beating for wearing 
the wrong socks to school.

Let me explain... sometimes I read the posts in this group, and 
elsewhere, and worry that we take JKR's Harry Potter world too 
literally. I think she often has an inaccurate account of what it is 
like these days to live here and panders to the outside view of what 
it really is like. I went to High School in America and as an English 
girl was astounded at how people perceived my home land. I often read 
HP and get flashbacks of JKR's inspiration -Enid Blyton. Which is 
great, but that was decades ago. We no longer live in quaint little 
England. Perhaps I'm taking it all too seriously.

I would imagine that a high percentage of our British teenagers don't 
know what spotted dick is (it's delicious by the way), or wouldn't 
know what a budgerigar is either. Most of the kids around also 
wouldn't recognise a hydrangea bush from an eggplant if it jumped out 
from behind a tree and waved a flag saying 'Hey kid! I'm a hydrangea 
bush!' I open a new HP book dreading to find Hermione 
exclaiming 'Jolly Hockey sticks! Pip pip cheerio and all that my old 
mucker!' I suppose what I'm saying is please please take all of the 
Britishisms (is that a word!?) with a pinch of salt. I am thrilled 
that everyone takes such an interest in finding out what these words 
mean, and that people want to understand every detail about the world 
of Harry Potter. Please remember it is fictional and not a 
representation of this (wonderful) country. Don't expect to come to 
London and find Stan Shunpike on all the double decker busses. You 
are more than likely going to get a grumpy old man who will grunt 
less than two words at you while snatching your fare from your hand. 

I know you are all too intelligent to jump to those conclusion anyway 
(I love this site by the way!) but this woman in the theatre just 
made me a little concerned...

I certainly don't want this to seem like an attack on Americans. It 
isn't. I grew up there and adore it, but I just felt like explaining
myself.


Thank you so very very much, I think you're all just super splendid 
and just absolutely cracking ;)
Josephine.