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Notes from a Small Island (1995)

by Bill Bryson

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Bill Bryson's Complete Notes (1), Bill Bryson's Travels (3)

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9,663215754 (3.78)349
Essays. Travel. Nonfiction. Humor (Nonfiction.) HTML:

Before New York Times bestselling author Bill Bryson wrote The Road to Little Dribbling, he took this delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation of Great Britain, which has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey.

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» See also 349 mentions

English (204)  French (2)  Dutch (2)  Swedish (1)  Italian (1)  Portuguese (Brazil) (1)  Catalan (1)  German (1)  All languages (213)
Showing 1-5 of 204 (next | show all)
Very few books make me laugh out loud, and this one did a few times. But despite the laughs and sharing Bryson's aesthetic taste in towns, I was relieved to finish this. It's just little too mean and a little too whiny in ways that didn't contribute much. Still worth a read, but maybe not if you're already feeling down on society. ( )
  mmparker | Oct 24, 2023 |
UK foibles and enchantment
  SrMaryLea | Aug 23, 2023 |
I enjoyed the travelogue and the time period. I don't know, parts were charming and funny but I just don't think Bryson & I have enough overlap in what we find amusing. 4 or 5 books in, I'm calling it.

Also, I can't say this enough, men please stop turning your domestic squabbles into observations about all women. I'm sorry your wife doesn't have her change ready at the register. I promise you, it's not a genetic trait applicable to 3 billion people. ( )
  Kiramke | Jun 27, 2023 |
Relaxing book, wonderfully written, highly recommended!

Well written, engaging book that will especially delight anyone who knows any of the locales visited. Reminds you of all the good things we used to have in Britain. ( )
  calenmarwen | May 29, 2023 |
I first read this book when it came out in paperback in the mid 1990’s and enjoyed it then, on rereading it I still enjoyed the read. ( )
  LisaBergin | Apr 12, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 204 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (6 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Bryson, Billprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Bauer, JerryPhotographersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Case, DavidNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Cook, DavidIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gower, NeilMapassecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hinfray, HélèneTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mäenpää, RistoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McLarty, RonNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pék, ZoltánTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pendola, SoniaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Roberts, WilliamNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ruschmeier, SigridTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Torndahl, LenaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wilde, Suzan deTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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My first sight of England was on a foggy March night in 1973 when I arrived on the midnight ferry from Calais.
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My AA Book of British Towns included lavish and kindly descriptions of every obscure community you could think to name ... but of Retford it maintained a stern and mysterious silence.
I found in My AA Book of British Towns an artist's illustration of central Edinburgh as it might be seen from the air. It showed Princes Street lined from end to end with nothing but fine old buildings. The same was true of all the other artists' impressions of British cities ... You can't do that, you know. You can't tear down fine old structures and pretend they are still there.
[At Blenheim] I took the opportunity to study the miniature steam train. It ran over a decidedly modest length of track across one corner of the rounds. The sight of fifty English people crouched on a little train in a cold drizzle waiting to be taken 200 yards and thinking they were having fun is one that I shall not forget in a hurry.
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Essays. Travel. Nonfiction. Humor (Nonfiction.) HTML:

Before New York Times bestselling author Bill Bryson wrote The Road to Little Dribbling, he took this delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation of Great Britain, which has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey.

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Book description
Bill Bryson, although living in Yorkshire, England, was born in America, and after deliberation with his wife, decided to move back there. Before departing, however, Bryson travelled one last time around England, from Dover to Liverpool to John O’Groats, keeping a record of his experiences. The result was Notes from a Small Island, a book filled with trains, tea-rooms, and (mostly) polite, amiable people.
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