Notes from a Small Island
Black Swan(August 1995)
www.booksattransworld
After nearly two decades in Britain, Bill Bryson took the decision to move back to the States for a while. But before leaving his much-loved home in North Yorkshire, Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. His aim was to take stock of the nation's public face and private parts, and to analyse what precisely it was he loved so much about a country that produced Marmite, a military hero whose dying wish was to be kissed by a fellow named Hardy, place names like Farleigh Wallop, Titsey and Shellow Bowells, people who said 'Mustn't grumble', and Gardeners' Question Time.
'Splendid…What's enjoyable is that there's as much of Bryson in here as there is of Britain' -- Sunday Telegraph
'Not a book that should be read in public, for fear of emitting loud snorts' -- The Times
Bulgaria, Denmark, Holland, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and the USA.
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