Over The Edge Page 10 BOOK REVIEW September 21, 1999

England, England

Julian Barnes
Vintage Canada

Julian Barnes
England, England is
a delightfully sarcas-
tic satire of England,
the world and
humanity in general.
He uses the back-
drop of a historical
theme park to write
about weighty
themes, such as the
diminishing attention
span, cultural
stereotypes and cap-
italism. Perhaps the
most intriguing idea
that Barnes presents
in England, England
is that of the theme
park itself. A mini
England complete
with Robin Hood,

thatched cottages
and the Manchester
United Football Club.

Set up for tourists
too lazy to explore
the real England, the
theme park England,
England provides all
of the historical and
cultural aspects of
actual England with-
out any of the
tedious driving from
site to site or dealing
with real life that
tourists would have
to endure on an
actual tour of
England. By exam-
ining the modern
acceptance of imita-
tion over authenticity

England, England
supplies food for
thought as well as
laughs for its audi-
ence. The various
problems that sur-

round England,
England once it has
been established

lend themselves to
new heights of
humour, especially
when involving the
authentic Royal fami-
ly.

Barnes’ creates
characters with both
unbelievably bizarre
habits, and com-
pletely plausible per-
sonalities. The read-
er at once becomes

enamoured with
Martha, Sir Jack and
Dr. Max. The char-
acterization of
England, England
supplies most of the
enchanting humour
in England, England
as well as the satire
of human _ nature
contained in_ this
novel.

England, England
examines the mod-
ern search for
authenticity and truth
in a world of imita-
tion and forgery in a
savagely funny way.

By Nicole Larson

MOLSON

SPECIAL FRICING
ON NOS

ENGLAND,

ENGLAND

Julian Barnes