Notes from a Small Island

A young man from Des Moines, Iowa, travels to England in 1973 to conquer the island, but encounters counterpanes, kippers, Cadbury's Curly Wurlies, and Mrs. Smegma's eccentric house rules. Tim Whitnall's stage adaptation of Bill Bryson's memoir "Notes from a Small Island" was first produced in 2023 and is a glorious celebration of one of the nation's most beloved books and a brilliant dissection of the enduring quirks of our small island.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2023
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

So, if you Americans already have cornflakes and Woolworths, what brings you to England?

It's 1973, and a young man from Des Moines, Iowa, has arrived on the ferry at Dover. He intends to conquer the whole of the island, like Caesar attempted before him.

But Caesar didn't have to deal with counterpanes, kippers, Cadbury's Curly Wurlies, or Mrs. Smegma, the landlady's eccentric house rules.

As Bill travels the length and breadth of Britain, through villages with names like Titsey and Little Dribbling, something strange starts to happen.

Can it be true? Is he really starting to feel at home?

Bill Bryson's smash-hit memoir, Notes from a Small Island, spent three years in The Sunday Times bestseller list, sold over two million copies, and was voted the book which best represents the UK.

Tim Whitnall's hilarious stage adaptation was first produced at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, in 2023. Written for an ensemble cast of seven (but suitable for a cast of dozens), it will appeal to amateur drama groups as a glorious celebration of one of the nation's most beloved books, and a brilliant dissection of the enduring quirks of our small island.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839042201
Edition number: stage version