Bill Bryson is a very successful American author, born in Iowa in 1951. He is well known for his writings in the genre of travel, which are often humorous and entertaining. Travel writing does not necessarily restrict you to reading brochures and guidebooks, and Bryson’s writing is a testament to this. Reading great writer’s perceptions of a location that you yourself are unlikely to visit is a great way of finding out about a place without leaving the comfort of your armchair! Alternatively, if you do plan to visit the places Bryson describes, reading the book will allow you to make your own judgements of the place you visit, which you can compare to the experiences of the author. Bill Bryson has written about a vast range of different locations that he has visited, including the US, England, Africa, Australia and many more.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

A Walk in the Woods is Bryson’s account of his journey along the Appalachian Trail, a hiking route over 2000 miles long, that he attempted to hike with his friend Stephen Katz. Instead of being a step by step account of their journey, the book also focuses on the history and ecology of the trail itself. It is a really interesting book, especially interesting is its focus on the local history surrounding the trail and Bryson’s musings throughout the book. As most of us are unlikely to attempt such a challenge, reading the book is a great way of being entertained whilst finding out a little more about the wilderness of America, without the blisters and aching feet!

In a Sunburned Country or Down Under

In the US and Canada the book was published as “In a Sunburned Country”, but it was also published under the title “Down Under” in other countries. It traces Bryson’s journey across Australia, written in the typical Bryson manner- full of interesting anecdotes, fascinating tit-bits of history and amusing recurrent themes. Instead of presenting the clichéd image of Australia that is so often presented, Bryson travels off the beaten track and gives a fascinating insight into Australian culture. A great book for any Bryson fan, but also for anyone interested in other cultures- Australia has to be one of the most remarkable countries in the world and its people are unquestionably unique.