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Notes From A Small Country
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Plot Summary of Notes From A Small Country
"Notes From A Small Country is Bill Bryson's British swan song, a memoir of his travels written before leaving his beloved Britain to return home to the U.S. in the mid 90's. In 1994, Mr Bryson relives his 1973 landing in Dover that changed his life forever. He tells how he came to England as a backpacking college student, met his wife, fell in love with her and the country, and stayed for the next twenty years.

In typical Bryson style he stumbles and staggers his way through flawed map directions, unavailable train connections, bad motels and recycled beer losing his patience at times but maintaining his sence of humor. He hikes through dismal weather along the southern coast, walks through the magnificent Cottswalds, catches the infrequent trains, visits Liverpool, works his way north through Scotland before returning home. The book is a witty and nostalgic trip around the countryside of England, Wales, and Scotland looking at the little small towns and observing the eccentricities that make Britain the enigma it is. He finds humor around every turn and debunks the myth of British stoicism. The people he meets are funny, unflappable and uniquely British."

David Fletcher, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Notes From A Small Country
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Ethnic/Relig. of subject (inside) - British
Ethnic/regional/gender Yes
ethnic of society (outside) - British
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+
Road trip Yes
Travelogue? Yes

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - writer
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other people
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 9 ()
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Small town? Yes
Misc setting - moving train
Century: - 1980's-Present

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Book makes you feel? - very happy
Is book humorous? Yes
If humorous, kind of humor - eccentric personalities - Dry-cynical - surreal - gentle
Writer's slant towards subject: - very favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult
Autobiography? Yes
How much dialogue in bio? - little dialog
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Bill Bryson Resident Scholar Profiles

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