Mr. Rosenblum's List: Or Friendly Guidance for the Aspiring Englishman - Tapa dura

'Prepare to be seriously charmed...hilarious and touching...Yes, the movie is already on its way - but please read the delightful novel first.' -- The Times 'In her charming debut, Natasha Solomons folds together Jewish baking, golf and Dorset folklore to create a singular comic confection.' -- Daily Telegraph 'A delightful tale of one man's determination of fufill his dream.' -- Stylist 'A tender exploration of the nature of home.' -- Marie Claire 'A subtle and moving examination of the dilemma faced by immigrants to modern Britain.' -- Observer 'written with skill, humour and sympathy' -- The Lady 'Solomons' has an exceptional feel for the Dorset countryside.' -- Country Life 'The descriptions of England - as home, adversary and eventually friend - are exquisite. Jack Rosenblum, a foolish, deeply sympathetic protagonist, is exasperating and admirable in equal measure. A touching, surprising and satisfying read.' -- Sadie Jones, author of The Outcast

Jack Rosenblum is five foot three and a half inches of sheer tenacity. Through study and application he intends to become a Very English Gentleman. Jack is compiling a list, a comprehensive guide to the manners, customs and habits of this country. He knows that marmalade must be bought from Fortnum & Mason, he's memorised the entire British monarchy back to 913 A.D and the highlight of his day is the BBC weather forecast. And he never speaks German, apart from the occasional curse. From the moment he disembarked at Harwich in 1937 he understood that assimilation was the key. But the war's been over for eight years and despite his best efforts, his bid to blend in remains fraught with unexpected hurdles. Including his wife. Sadie finds his obsession baffling. She doesn't want to forget who they are or where they come from. She'd rather bake cakes to remember the people they left behind than worry about how to play bridge. But Jack is convinced they can find a place to call home. In a final attempt to complete his list, he leads a reluctant Sadie into the English countryside. Here, in a land of woolly pigs, bluebells and jitterbug cider, they embark on an impossible task...