Try free for 30 days

Preview

  • Notes From a Small Island

  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: William Roberts
  • Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (258 ratings)

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Notes From a Small Island

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: William Roberts
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

After nearly two decades in Britain, Bill Bryson, the acclaimed author of such best sellers as The Mother Tongue and Made in America, decided it was time to move back to the United States for a while. This was partly to let his wife and kids experience life in Bryson's homeland, and partly because he had read that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another. It was thus clear to him that his people needed him. But before leaving his much-loved home in North Yorkshire, Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. His aim was to take stock of modern-day Britain, and to analyze what he loved so much about a country that had produced Marmite, zebra crossings, and place names like Farleigh Wallop, Titsey, and Shellow Bowells. With wit and irreverence, Bill Bryson presents the ludicrous and the endearing in equal measure. The result is a social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain.
©1995 Bill Bryson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Comedy & Humour Europe Travel Writing & Commentary Western Europe Funny Witty Feel-Good United States
Show More Show Less

What listeners say about Notes From a Small Island

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    167
  • 4 Stars
    61
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    172
  • 4 Stars
    39
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    149
  • 4 Stars
    49
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Robbie

Wonderful

Brilliant enchanting funny well written entertaining uplifting glorious free (I could go on and on).

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer

Excellent as always

Mr. Bryson is such a clever man. His writing is brilliant. Mr. Roberts performance is so funny and well done. I do wonder how much he must practice to get the words right. Well done both of you.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kindle Customer

encapsulates the life and times of the Island

really loving the narrator. They sell the story and make it successful. Bill Bryson has a wonderfully flowing narrative. One that I can identify with and totally understand. Thank you!

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Richard

Not bad

The version read by the author is much better. The artist doing the reading is fine, but the authors own voice is better

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kerry Smith

Another Bryson Tale

Pretty much another Bryson travelog .
Still an enjoyable and amusing listen .
if your a Bill Bryson fan , your going to like it anyway .
I enjoyed It . my

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User

a funny and revealing book by someone beguiled

a funny and revealing book by someone beguiled by great Britain. worth a listen. the reader is also very good

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kindle Customer

humour abundant descriptions

swearing most unexpected or appreciated. and unnecessarily used. but great to follow the journey through Britain to awaken many own memories

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User

Very funny

Very funny & wryly observed. Wouldn't make you want to voluntarily visit G.B. though ha ha

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for jacqueline rozenfeld

An Utter Delight!!! WONDERFUL.

Interesting, whimsical, fun and hilarious, this is a book I cannot recommend more highly to anyone who wishes to learn about The British Isles.

I feel as if I travelled alongside Bryson.

WONDERFUL!!!!!

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jennifer A Garley

Laugh out loud

Laugh out loud. Great Bryson insights as usual. He makes you want to go travelling.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.