Notes From a Small Island

Before returning to his native United States after spending nearly twenty years living in Britain, celebrated travel writer Bill Bryson embarks on a valedictory grand tour of his adopted island home. Equipped with his trademark wit, keen powers of observation, and a touch of irreverence, Bryson sets out to traverse Great Britain entirely on public transportation and foot.

Along the way, he encounters a variety of colorful characters, quaint villages, bustling cities and the inevitable frustrations of capricious bus schedules and labyrinthine streets that lead him astray. Through his humorous social commentary and poignant reflections, Bryson shares his deep appreciation for Britain’s charming eccentricities, from the architectural beauty found in the most unexpected places to the endearing quirks of the people he meets.

Part travelogue, part cultural study, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully entertaining jaunt across Britain that will leave readers chuckling while inspiring a newfound affection for this fascinating and historic “small island.” With his characteristic incisive wit and gift for clever turn of phrase, Bill Bryson delivers an insightful and affectionate portrait of a nation and its people that is as illuminating as it is hilarious. For Anglophiles or anyone who has ever fantasized about traversing Britain’s green and pleasant land, Notes from a Small Island is an uproariously funny and thoughtful exploration of what makes Britain so very British.