Notes From A Small Island

Bryson suggests that the British and the Americans possess a mutual fascination for each other’s national quirks, coupled with disdain for certain characteristics—Americans view the English as painfully reserved, for example, while English people view Americans as embarrassingly boisterous. While the bulk of this book focuses solely on Great Britain, Bryson cannot help but compare his adopted country to the country of his birth. This strategy of comparison allows him to make generalizations about both countries that serve to support his ideas about (and affection for) each. Bryson’s credibility as a travel writer rests on his ability to position himself both as an insider and an outsider: His outside perspective allows him to notice traits that the British may not see in themselves, while his long habitation in England gives him an intimate knowledge of its culture and landscape. Thus, Bryson establishes authority over each place, fashioning himself an expert in relaying cultural realities.

Bryson writes that when he first arrived in Britain, more than 20 years prior to the events of the book, his body “was lightly oiled with the dirt of two nations” (11). The metaphor suggests that he belongs to both the US and England but, as a young man, is not deeply rooted in either.