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The Lost Continent

Travels In Small Town America

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The Lost Continent

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: William Roberts
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About this listen

 Hardly anyone ever leaves Des Moines, Iowa. But Bill Bryson did, and after 10 years in England he decided to go home, to a foreign country.

In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette, he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this hilarious and perceptive state-of-the-nation report on small-town America.

From the Deep South to the Wild West, from Elvis' birthplace through to Custer's Last Stand, Bryson visits places he re-named Dullard, Coma, and Doldrum (so the residents don't sue or come after him with baseball bats). But his hopes of finding the American dream end in a nightmare of greed, ignorance, and pollution. This is a wickedly witty and savagely funny assessment of a country lost to itself, and to him.

©1989 Bill Bryson (P)2014 Audible, Inc. North America Travel Writing & Commentary United States Funny Witty Old West Wild West
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I have read this book several times and therefore looked forward to the audio version. However, while the book is still as funny and informative about Bryson’s travels in search of the perfect U.S. town, the narration was less than engaging for me.
It may be because I’m a Brit, or perhaps because originally I had thought Bill Bryson was going to read his own book (I didn’t read the description well enough so mea culpa).
Still a great book to listen to, and the narrator didn’t detract too much for me. I am now going to search for Bryson reading Bryson if such a thing exists.

Great, funny, and informative book, narration leaves something to be desired though

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Yet another glimpse of life through Bill Bryson’s eye,
this is a memorable drive through States United in America
as only a born and breed citizen on a visit can describe.
Thank you Mr Bryson for a this thought provoking work
and Mr Roberts for yet another marvellous narrative :-)

…chortles, giggles, snorts and laughter all way :-)

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I love the narrators voice. as a way of killing time, Bill Bryson's books are the best

a nice wander through a foreign land.

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I heard elements and hints of The Thunderbolt Kid and A Walk in the Woods here, both of those better written, funnier and less caustic books. I usually prefer titles narrated by the author him/herself, but I enjoyed William Roberts' performance here.

Early Bryson, with hints of later, better books

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another great story from Bill Bryson, and William Roberts performance just brings the story to life. from beginning to end a great listen

what can I say Bryson at his best yet again,

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This is the story of Bill Bryson's journey around America to try to reconnect with the home of his youth, and his general disillusionment with the America he finds. He visits historically significant places turned into incredibly commercialised and tacky tourist attractions, endures the mind-boggling insularity and repetitiveness of small town radio stations on his long days of driving, and remembers humorous experiences from his childhood.

William Roberts' narration is conversational and expressive, which really suits the material. We share the author's bewilderment at the multitudes of fat holidaymakers he encounters everywhere he goes, his fond ridicule of his father's clueless behaviour that made every childhood holiday a disappointment, and his hopeful search for parts of the perfect small town he calls Amalgam.

Bryson has a PG Wodehouse-like ability to use unexpected words very precisely to hilarious effect. I loved his made up place names like Fartville, Idaho or Spotweld, Indiana. I laughed out loud many times.

The Lost Continent is very funny but also a bit melancholy in its realisation that many of the charms of mid-century America are gone forever. In audio format it's a great listen.

Highly entertaining

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this was most enjoyable , a very funny look at the usa. i must do a usa roadtrip one day!

very funny

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Classic Bryson. Having read his newer books, he has changed and ai like those better. The book is obviously dated - 1980s! - but nonetheless it is a little bit of a culture shock for a younger reader who doesn’t remember the time. Amazing how much language has changed, and attitudes. Bryson is a bit meaner to the ‘different’, than I think he would be today. Fat people, the disabled and gay people are not referred to particularly politely. Anyway, despite that it was okay. Just be prepared for a lot of restaurant meal descriptions…

Dated

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Really enjoyed this and in prep for an upcoming road trip in the US I’m even more excited. Some parts are a little dated but you’re going to get that in a travel book written 30 odd years ago. The story is quite humorous and enjoyable along the way.

Great read / listen... a bit dated but still great

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I am so fascinated by America 🇺🇸 to hear and relive Bill's journey, which stirs up emotions of wanting to see the beautiful country. appreciated the journey!

beautifully detailed

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