Bill Bryson
by Joyce Saricks
Genre: Travel
Language
Memoir
Popular Science
An American student seduced by the pleasures of life in Great Britain in the 70s, Bill
Bryson married and lived there until 1996. He worked as a copy editor and wrote
magazine articles before embarking on The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town
America, a nostalgic look back to the America of the 50s when his own family engaged in
such excursions. His stylish road trip account, replete with concern over lost treasures and
traditions, as well as a humorous glance at America then and now, appealed to British
readers. In fact, his work was popular there long before it achieved similar acclaim in the
United States. Known for his eclectic interests, depth of research, evocative descriptions
of landscapes and ideas, and sometimes outrageous humor, Bryson has become one of the
most popular and respected journalist authors, whether his focus is people and places,
language, or the nature of the universe.
Bryson earned his reputation as a travel writer. After his initial American account, he continued with further
reports of adventures in England, Europe, and Australia. All offer keenly observed, nostalgic glimpses of small
towns now gone or polluted by commercial sameness. Bryson’s writing also betrays a deep fondness for the
uniqueness of the countries he tours. Extensive research into the history of an area and an understanding of
current conditions allow him to offer incisive social commentary leavened with humor. In all his books he
becomes the readers’ companion and guide, both insider and outsider, participant and observer, allowing readers
to see what’s interesting and important without ever leaving their comfortable armchairs.
Bryson’s engaging style attracts readers, whether he’s writing about the landscapes of
England, his own memories of his midwestern childhood, the secrets of popular science,
or the intricacies of the English language. No matter what the subject, his books are as
entertaining as they are informative. (Even Bryson’s Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A
Writer’s Guide to Getting it Right makes amusing and certainly educational reading.)
Bryson draws readers into the topic du jour with his irresistible enthusiasm for his
subjects, which run the gamut from Australia to black holes and beyond. Readers
appreciate the transporting power of his writing; while not intentionally edifying, it is
always entertaining and has the power to provide a new perspective on the topics he
covers.
Bryson values facts, the more arcane the better. But he wears his erudition lightly, and his
delight in knowledge for its own sake is contagious. Authoritative his books may be, but
the humor that pervades them makes the knowledge accessible. He is the master of the apt
anecdote or the perfect example to explain and enrich whatever point he is making. While
his bestselling exploration of popular science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, takes
on, in his words, the workings of the universe, it does so in a way that even the most
science-phobic reader can understand. One of Bryson's principal skills is his ability to
make the mundane interesting and the obscure understandable.
Humor, both understated and exaggerated, plays an important role in all Bryson’s works. Whether writing about
his adventures (and misadventures) on the road or about the wonders of the universe, Bryson incorporates a large
measure of clever wordplay into his entertaining style. Unlike some authors who make a point of being funny,
Bryson accomplishes the task effortlessly. His insightful wit underlines and enhances all his writing in much the
same way that Mark Twain’s humor and style enlivened his nonfiction.
Readers new to Bryson should start with his travel writing, which offers several enticing
possibilities. Although there is much to be said for his attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail
(A Walk in the Woods), his exploration of Australia (In a Sunburned Country) offers more
scope for his talents. With Bryson as our knowledgeable tour guide we discover the majesty
of Ayers rock, the disconcerting presence of more poisonous creatures than anywhere else
on earth, and the vast size and diversity of this fascinating continent, along with its history,
people, and customs. Humor vies with his sense of wonder as he explores, with his readers
firmly in tow.
Read-alikes:
Fellow midwestern transplant (but to New York City rather than England) Calvin Trillin
might be an interesting suggestion for Bryson fans. Although travel is not his specialty, he
certainly travels in search of interesting food and adventures, and his accounts of fine (and
not-so-fine) eating resonate with insights into people and places. His conversational, often
playful, style, which, like Bryson’s, obscures the fact that he actually is an accomplished
literary stylist; his pleasure in adventures and discoveries; his ability to put himself into the
story; and his wonderful self-deprecating humor should please Bryson fans. In addition to
his reputation as a food critic, Trillin is known as a poet, political pundit, and novelist. Try
Travels with Alice, which recounts his trips to Europe with his wife and two daughters. No
five star restaurants for this family, but amusing adventures in travel and good eating.
Award-winning television correspondent and journalist Charles Kuralt became famous for
taking the back roads and introducing his audience to Americans who didn’t often appear
on television. His “On the Road” series, which led to a trio of books, capitalized on his
ability to create stories from the smallest events. Like Bryson, he put characters first, but
his quiet humor and incisive commentary allowed him to explore social and cultural issues
linked to his out-of-the way locations. In Charles Kuralt’s America, written after he retired
from CBS News, Kuralt provides the kind of insider’s view of the country and people that
shares many similarities with Bryson’s travel writing.
Readers who appreciate Bryson’s wit and descriptive skills might also enjoy the writing of
naturalist Gerald Durrell. Travel and animals dominate his writing but, as such diverse
topics do with Bryson, these offer scope for his quirky humor, accessible erudition, flights
of fantasy, and astute observations. Although generally lighthearted, anecdotal, and
entertaining, Durrell’s works–nonfiction, fiction, and television--also offer heartfelt and
passionate arguments for protecting individual animals and species. My Family and Other
Animals combines the natural history of Corfu with the less conventional history of his own
family, including his brother, acclaimed novelist Lawrence Durrell. Humor and accurate
scientific detail characterize this charming tale.
While perhaps more daring that Bryson in the adventures he embarks on, Tim Cahill brings
humor, along with cogent and often personal commentary, to his extensive travel writing.
Outside magazine’s founding editor, Cahill has a reputation as an adventurer, willing to
meet any physical challenge—and try any food—in the country he explores. While Cahill’s
exploits may be more extreme, Bryson readers will appreciate his companionable style,
which invites readers to share his adventures. Try Lost in My Own Backyard, his classic
collection of essays about his explorations of Yellowstone National Park.
Bryson credits Paul Theroux as one of his influences, and this travel writer, equally known
for his fiction, is a good author for Bryson fans to consider. His The Great Railway Bazaar:
By Train through Asia in 1975 set the standard for provocative travel accounts that also
include personal reflections and commentary. Rich with characters and adventure, this
travelogue takes readers on a fascinating and entertaining journey on classic trains and
routes. Theroux followed it with similar travelogues set around the world. He writes with
nostalgia for the previous glory of train travel, and, like Bryson, enlivens the accounts of his
journeys with personal reflections and a touch of humor.
Joyce Saricks is a readers' advisory consultant and the author of Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (ALA,
2001).
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