Notes From A Small Island

American-born journalist Bill Bryson undertakes a journey across the island of Great Britain, which he has called home for the previous 20 years, in his travel memoir, Notes from a Small Island. Originally published in 1995, the book still provides fresh—if sometimes biting—comparisons between British quirks and American attitudes; insight into the nature of tourism; and recognition of the disappointments and difficulties of travel. Despite these difficulties, Bryson delights in the natural beauty of this “small island” and praises its many talented (and unfailingly polite) inhabitants. In a 2003 opinion pool organized for World Book Day, Britons themselves voted the book as one that best represents England, and it was adapted for ITV television as a six-part documentary in 1999.

All quotations in this guide come from the 1998 Bard Avon Books paperback edition.

Content Warning: The book contains potentially offensive language, stereotypes, and assumptions. In particular, the author occasionally and incorrectly uses the terms “English” and “England” to signify all of Great Britain.

Summary

Before returning to the United States with his family, the author, a US national, embarks on a farewell tour of the “small island” of Great Britain, the place he has called home for the past 20 years.