Down Under by Bill Bryson (review)

Bill Bryson brings his trademark wit and insightful curiosity down under to Australia in this highly enjoyable and interesting book. He delves deeply into the culture, history, people, wildlife and landscapes of this huge and fascinating country. Bryson has the gift of bringing these things to life and at times making seemingly boring subject matters worth reading about. His enthusiasm and love for Australia is infectious but he is not afraid to write about Australia's most notable social failure, the desolation of the Aborigines. There is a sense of poignancy and helplessness in the book regarding the fate of these people. But there is plenty to admire about Australia; Bryson's description of the towns and cities and people is very favourable and I think perhaps the Australian tourist board owes him a gratitude of thanks for promoting their country in such a good light. It might not be the funniest of Bryson's books, but it still contains many humorous anecdotes and observations, a skill that he has honed down to a fine art. Due to the copious amounts of deadly creatures that abound in Oz, and which Bryson is not slow to point out, it is highly unlikely that I will ever set foot in this dangerous country. But thanks to Down Under I feel that I have, in some way, travelled around Australia with Bryson, albeit from a safe distance. 8/10