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1. Biography of Bill Bryson
2. Early Life and Education
3. Life in Britain and Writing Career
4. Return to America and Later Life

Biography of Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is an American writer who was born in the United States but spent the majority of his life in Britain. He became actively involved in literature shortly before his return to America in 1995, and he is now considered one of the most prominent writers in the world. Bryson is best known for his humorous observations about his travels and his books on the English language and science.

Early Life and Education

Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa and inherited a small amount of Irish blood from his mother. He attended Drake University for two years before dropping out in 1972 to travel around Europe. His four-month journey made a lasting impression on him, and a year later, he returned to Europe with a school friend. Memories of these trips would later resurface in his book "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe," which chronicles his adventures.

Life in Britain and Writing Career

In 1973, Bryson first arrived in Great Britain during his second trip to Europe. He loved the country and decided to stay, eventually finding work in a local psychiatric hospital. It was there that he met his future wife, Cynthia Billen, a nurse. They got married and moved to the United States, where Bryson completed his college education. In 1977, they returned to Britain, where they lived until 1995.

Initially, Bryson worked as a journalist and eventually became the chief copy editor of the business section of The Times. He also served as the deputy news editor of the business section of The Independent. In 1987, Bryson left journalism after the birth of his third child and began writing actively. In 1990, his family welcomed their fourth child.

Return to America and Later Life

Although Bryson had the opportunity to obtain official British citizenship, he never took the citizenship test out of fear. In 1995, he returned to the United States and settled in Hanover, New Hampshire for a few years. His experiences living in Hanover are described in his book "I'm a Stranger Here Myself." While in the States, Bryson decided to hike the Appalachian Trail with his old travel companion. The memories of this journey became the basis for his book "A Walk in the Woods."

In 2003, Bryson, his wife, and children moved back to Britain, this time settling in Norfolk. That same year, his book "Notes from a Small Island" was voted the best description of the British mentality and the state of the nation by British readers in collaboration with the World Book Day project. Bryson also became a commissioner for the English Heritage project. In 2004, he received the prestigious Aventis Book Prize for his work "A Short History of Nearly Everything," which explained important concepts in various sciences in a simple and accessible language.

Bryson has written several other books, including "Mother Tongue" and "Made in America," which explore the history of the English language. He also reissued his lesser-known work, "Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words." Despite some inaccuracies and myths in his books, they have been warmly received. In addition to literary awards, Bryson has received other honors, such as the President's Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2005 and the key to Des Moines from Mayor Frank Cownie in 2006. He interviewed Tony Blair in November 2006 about the state of science and education in the country. On December 13, 2006, Bryson was awarded the Order of the British Empire, and on May 3, 2013, he was elected a fellow of The Royal Society of London.