cover image English in Love: Passion Among the Elite

English in Love: Passion Among the Elite

Anne de Courcy. Salem House Publishers, $9.95 (128pp) ISBN 978-0-88162-267-6

The author offers a marvelous, witty send-up of British upper-class love, with emphasis on the Sloane Ranger variety. Amply illustrated, the book is divided into career and sports categories. In the section on the City, London's financial center, de Courcy notes, ""When hands meet over unfolded prospectuses, slipping between the balance sheets together often follows.'' On water sports: ``Like ducks, who can only copulate in running water, dinghy sailors seem to need a certain degree of dampness in order to work up a head of steam.'' On television: ``Production assistants can usually be found at the producer's side, though often this position changes dramatically.'' The final section is about book publishing, including the following ``opening gambits from publisher to author'': ``I think we ought to make it dinnerI always believe in discussing fiction over a glass of wine,'' and ``Of course I'll show you my word processor. Actually I do all my writing in the bedroom.'' (February)