Book Review: Le Guide Officiel To Being British by Muriel Demarcus

Book Review: Le Guide Officiel To Being British by Muriel Demarcus

Le Guide Officiel To Being British: How I Became A British Citizen…Despite Being French is a new book by Muriel Demarcus. She’s a funny and gorgeous French (now British!) lady who lives in London with her husband and children. You might know Muriel from her blog French Yummy Mummy or from various media features. After working in the corporate London world where she wasn’t taken seriously, she started her blog that became a big success. She writes about Britishness, the French, and everything in between on her blog and for magazines and newspapers. 

Her book is about her experiences of being French in the United Kingdom and covers lots of areas such as every day life, relationships, work, culture and values.

“So you think you that you understand what being British is about? Dear oh dear. I urge you to think again. Little things can betray you, this much I know.
For instance: Where do you find Yorkshire puddings? What does ‘I don’t disagree’ mean?
See, it’s not that easy; I have captured years of experience in this book, and to be truthful I am still learning. Being British is a complex art.”

The book is split into short, easy to read chapters covering an array of important subjects. We get to see how the British are seen from a French point of view and read Muriel’s anecdotes — I love it! I’m a foreigner living in the UK myself and as a Swede there are lots of things I recognise myself. It’s a really witty book that I’m sure most people will find funny – whether you are French or from another country and living in the UK or are born British.

I love that Muriel’s Frenchness shows in the way she writes too — it’s a beautiful thing!

I’ve been reading this book in the bath over the past couple of months. It’s pretty much the only place and chance I get to read nowadays with two children and I’ve really been looking forward to my me-time in the bath, relaxing with this book. I’m a bit sad that it’s over!

Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk. It’s available for Kindle for just a couple of pounds.

I was sent an advance copy of this book by the author.