Re: “Coogan conquers the colonies,” by Kyle Francis, Cover, Aug. 14-20, 2008.

I was sincerely dismayed by the opening to Kyle Francis’ story on Steve Coogan. My closest and dearest friend in the world is British and I have often heard the notion that North Americans lack an ironic soul. However, I am also an admirer of Stephen Fry’s works and as such feel the need to speak up.

Stephen Fry is one of the least likely candidates for spokesperson of America as an “irony-free zone.” Rather, Stephen states in one of his world-wide podgrams earlier this year (Bored of the Dance) that “Americans are no more irony-free than Britons or anyone else.” He goes so far as to describe such a statement as being “ugly, graceless and rude.” Putting a face to an idea is generally good fun, but why bring poor Stephen into the matter when such a connection is blatantly untrue. I am left, in the end, to wonder where Mr. Francis gleaned his information.

Cerise Hume-Smith,

Calgary