Title: One Summer: America, 1927
Author: Bill Bryson
First published August 1, 2013
456 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780767919401 (ISBN10: 0767919408)
Rating: 4.09
Overview
Join Bill Bryson on a journey back to the summer of 1927, a time of incredible events and larger-than-life personalities. From Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight across the Atlantic to Babe Ruth’s record-breaking season and Al Capone’s reign of terror, this season was one for the history books.
Bryson’s eye for detail and humor bring to life the stories of a Queens housewife and her lover’s murder trial, the South’s devastating floods, and the fateful decision of the world’s most powerful central bankers. With One Summer, Bryson delivers narrative nonfiction at its finest, transporting readers to a time when America stepped onto the world stage and made history.
About the Author
Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1951, William McGuire Bryson, also known as Bill Bryson, is a renowned author and journalist. He moved to England in 1977 and worked in journalism before becoming a full-time writer.
He lived in North Yorkshire with his English wife and four children for many years before relocating to New Hampshire in America. However, he and his family have since returned to the UK.
Bryson’s first travel book, which chronicled a road trip in his mother’s Chevy around small-town America, was a hilarious success. He followed this up with “Neither Here nor There,” which recounted his first trip around Europe.
He has also authored several other travel books, including the best-selling “Notes from a Small Island,” which won the 2003 World Book Day National Poll for representing modern England, as well as “A Walk in the Woods,” “The Lost Continent,” and “Down Under,” which featured his travel companion from “A Walk in the Woods,” Stephen Katz.
In addition to his travel writing, Bryson has written several highly acclaimed books on the English language, such as “Mother Tongue” and “Made in America.” His last book, “A Short History of Nearly Everything,” explored science and was a critically acclaimed bestseller. It was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and went on to win the Aventis Prize for Science Books and the Descartes Science Communication Prize.
Bryson’s latest book, “The Body: A Guide for Occupants,” is a memoir of growing up in 1950s America and features his old friend Stephen Katz. It is set to be published on October 8th.
Editoral Review
Bill Bryson’s book One Summer: America, 1927 is a captivating work of non-fiction that explores the events that took place during one of the country’s most iconic summers. Published in August 2013, the book provides readers with a fascinating insight into an era that witnessed significant changes in American politics, science, and culture.
Bryson, a renowned author of several New York Times bestsellers, takes on a unique approach to storytelling in One Summer. Rather than exploring one central theme, he interweaves a multitude of narratives to create a complex tapestry of events that occurred in the summer of 1927.
The book covers several topics, ranging from the exploits of Charles Lindbergh, who became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic, to Babe Ruth’s record-breaking season with the New York Yankees. In One Summer, Bryson seamlessly blends humor and wit with in-depth research to create a thoroughly engaging read.
His depiction of the 1920s era, with its excesses and flamboyance, is vividly realized through his cast of characters, which includes gangsters, inventors, politicians, and movie stars. Bryson’s book offers a wealth of historical and cultural significance that continues to resonate in today’s world.
The era of the 1920s is often referred to as the “roaring twenties,” which in many ways shares similarities with the cultural changes of the 21st century. For example, Bryson highlights the rampant inequality, corruption, and racial tensions that existed in America during that period, which is still relevant in today’s society.
One of the book’s strengths is its ability to provide a real sense of the place and the people that lived in that era. Bryson’s narrative of the 1927 summer comes across as a grand epic that offers a glimpse of an era before the world changed irrevocably.
His attention to detail and meticulous research create a world that readers can fully immerse themselves in. Bryson’s writing style, which is characterized by his use of witty anecdotes and wry observations, adds a unique flair to the book.
His ability to convey complex issues in a manner that is accessible to readers of all backgrounds is one of the book’s most significant strengths. Additionally, his attention to detail and his ability to paint vivid pictures with his prose make One Summer an unforgettable reading experience.
However, One Summer may not be perfect. Some readers may find the sheer volume of stories and characters overwhelming or that the book lacks a central thesis.
Nonetheless, these minor flaws do not detract from the book’s overall quality, and Bryson’s ability to craft a thoroughly engrossing read is undeniable. One Summer: America, 1927 is a must-read for anyone interested in American history and culture.
Bryson’s stunning prose and meticulous research make the book a joy to read, and his unique storytelling approach is sure to captivate readers from start to finish. The book receives an impressive score of 9/10, as it is a true masterpiece that will leave readers wanting more.
