Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain on + 1178 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
In the late 1980's, I took a trip to England along with two friends. This was probably one of the most enjoyable and interesting two weeks I have ever spent. We flew into Heathrow and from there spent four days in London. Then we rented a car and drove to such places as Stonehenge, Bath, Blackpool, Stratford on Avon, Birmingham, the Lake District, and York among many other places. Driving the rented car was an adventure in itself...not only did we need to adjust to driving on the left but we also had a stick-shift which required left-handed shifting while sitting in the right of the car. We visited many castles and cathedrals including the York Minster, Kenilworth Castle, Castle Howard, Warwick Castle, and Windsor. All of this was great and I have always wanted to take another trip there.
Reading Bryson's narrative of his trip around Britain made me want to return there even more. I have read a few other of Bryson's books including Notes From a Small Island, his first memoir about his travel in Britain. In Dribbling, he returns to some of the same locations that he visited in Small Island but visits many different locations as well. As always, Bryson uses his over-the-top wit as well as descriptions and histories of the places he traveled. Bryson is not only a great travel writer and humorist but is also a great historian (one of my favorite books of his is A Short History of Nearly Everything). He also is often perturbed about Britain in general along with the British people but in the end he points out his love for the country and he is now a British Citizen.
Some of the places he visits in this book were places that I visited over 30 years ago and it seems that there have been lots of changes since I was there. These include Stonehenge where the roadway has actually now been moved away from the monument to provide for better viewing. Blackpool also has changed and for the worse. Apparently it is now one of the most crime-ridden cities in England.
Then there are the places that I never visited when I was there. If I ever go again (it's seeming less likely as I get older...not to mention the current COVID restrictions on travel) it would be beneficial to take Bryson's book as a travel guide. I definitely would like to visit some of the villages in Cornwall and along England's southern coast. Avebury which contains the largest megalithic stone circle in the world is another site on my bucket list. I also need to visit Scotland which was not included in my trip.
Bryson includes a lot of history in his narrative which makes it all the more interesting. One of the tidbits he mentions is the story of Sutton Hoo, an estate in Suffolk. The widow of the owner of the estate, Mrs. Pretty, took up spiritualism and developed and interest in the twenty or so grassy mounds that were near her house. She decided to excavate them and ended up using an amateur archaeologist named Basil Brown to do so. Brown dug trenches and found the remains of a ship and along with it the greatest haul of treasure ever recovered in Britain including jewels, coins, gold and silver plate, armor and weapons, etc. I had never heard of Sutton Hoo or its treasures but I saw recently that Netflix has been running a movie based on these events called The Dig that I will be watching sometime soon. This movie is based on a novel by John Preston which I will also be on the lookout for.
Overall, I really enjoyed this travel narrative. As I was reading, I was constantly referring to Google Maps for locations and pictures of the various sites mentioned. There are just so many historic things in Britain. Bryson points out that if you tried to visit all the medieval churches in England at the rate of one a week, it would take you 308 years. All the known archaeological sties would require no less than 11,500 years of your time! Seems like a place that needs visiting again.
Reading Bryson's narrative of his trip around Britain made me want to return there even more. I have read a few other of Bryson's books including Notes From a Small Island, his first memoir about his travel in Britain. In Dribbling, he returns to some of the same locations that he visited in Small Island but visits many different locations as well. As always, Bryson uses his over-the-top wit as well as descriptions and histories of the places he traveled. Bryson is not only a great travel writer and humorist but is also a great historian (one of my favorite books of his is A Short History of Nearly Everything). He also is often perturbed about Britain in general along with the British people but in the end he points out his love for the country and he is now a British Citizen.
Some of the places he visits in this book were places that I visited over 30 years ago and it seems that there have been lots of changes since I was there. These include Stonehenge where the roadway has actually now been moved away from the monument to provide for better viewing. Blackpool also has changed and for the worse. Apparently it is now one of the most crime-ridden cities in England.
Then there are the places that I never visited when I was there. If I ever go again (it's seeming less likely as I get older...not to mention the current COVID restrictions on travel) it would be beneficial to take Bryson's book as a travel guide. I definitely would like to visit some of the villages in Cornwall and along England's southern coast. Avebury which contains the largest megalithic stone circle in the world is another site on my bucket list. I also need to visit Scotland which was not included in my trip.
Bryson includes a lot of history in his narrative which makes it all the more interesting. One of the tidbits he mentions is the story of Sutton Hoo, an estate in Suffolk. The widow of the owner of the estate, Mrs. Pretty, took up spiritualism and developed and interest in the twenty or so grassy mounds that were near her house. She decided to excavate them and ended up using an amateur archaeologist named Basil Brown to do so. Brown dug trenches and found the remains of a ship and along with it the greatest haul of treasure ever recovered in Britain including jewels, coins, gold and silver plate, armor and weapons, etc. I had never heard of Sutton Hoo or its treasures but I saw recently that Netflix has been running a movie based on these events called The Dig that I will be watching sometime soon. This movie is based on a novel by John Preston which I will also be on the lookout for.
Overall, I really enjoyed this travel narrative. As I was reading, I was constantly referring to Google Maps for locations and pictures of the various sites mentioned. There are just so many historic things in Britain. Bryson points out that if you tried to visit all the medieval churches in England at the rate of one a week, it would take you 308 years. All the known archaeological sties would require no less than 11,500 years of your time! Seems like a place that needs visiting again.
John O. (buzzby) -
Funny writer, I liked his section on Ancient Britain.
Nancy C. (nancyzc) reviewed The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain on + 81 more book reviews
All Bill Bryson's books are packed with information and are laugh-out-loud funny, but I think this one may be the best. He's mellowed a lot during his writing career. Most of the early vulgarities are now missing.
Coincidentally, we just this month toured Durham Cathedral, which this books calls the best cathedral in the world. Durham is only one hour by train from York, and I highly recommend visiting.
Coincidentally, we just this month toured Durham Cathedral, which this books calls the best cathedral in the world. Durham is only one hour by train from York, and I highly recommend visiting.
