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One Summer
- America 1927
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
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One Summer
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Editor reviews
Summary
Audible is proud to present One Summer: America, 1927, the new book by Britain’s favourite writer of narrative nonfiction, Bill Bryson.
Narrated by the man himself, One Summer takes you to the summer when America came of age, took centre stage, and changed the world forever. In the summer of 1927, America had a booming stock market, a president who worked just four hours a day, a semi-crazed sculptor with a plan to carve four giant heads into a mountain called Rushmore, a devastating flood of the Mississippi, a sensational murder trial, and a youthful aviator named Charles Lindbergh who started the summer wholly unknown, and finished it as the most famous man on Earth.
It was the summer of the first talking pictures, the invention of television, the peak of Al Capone's reign of terror, the ill-conceived decision that led to the Great Depression, and the thrillingly improbable return to greatness of a wheezing, over-the-hill baseball player named Babe Ruth.
With an unforgettable cast of personalities, Bill Bryson spins a story of brawling adventure, reckless optimism, and delirious energy. What a country; what a summer; and what a writer to bring it all so vividly to life.
Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951; he moved to and settled in England in 1977, working in journalism until becoming a full-time author. Bryson is much-loved for his best-selling travel books, from The Lost Continent to Down Under, and Notes from a Small Island earned a particularly special place in the nation's heart - a national poll for World Book Day voted it the book that best represents Britain. A Short History of Nearly Everything won the Aventis Prize for Science Books and the Descartes Science Communication Prize. Bryson has also written a memoir, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, and acclaimed books on language and social history (Mother Tongue, Made in America, At Home).
He lives in the UK with his wife and family, and was awarded an honorary OBE for services to literature.
What listeners say about One Summer
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Roger Boyle
- 30-09-21
A delightful view of 1927
This is a delightful meander around the summer of 1927 in America
It includes famous, ok infamous and unknown characters of the period.
The range of topics include Aviation,Baseball,Floods,Politics and general whimsy
A delightful listen to Bill Bruson's mellifluous voice
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Julian wetter
- 25-10-19
excellent audio book
one of the best audio books I have bought for any bill brydon fan it's a must buy
also gives a great insight into that summer of 1927 very informative full of american culture and history of that era I found it fascinating s.d really enjoyed it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Michydog
- 26-03-14
Facinating that this summer was such a watershed
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
It is a great history lesson told in a very interesting way
Who was your favorite character and why?
All of the characters hold fascination because they were all real and made such meaningful contributions to our world today (even those who were murderers!)
Which character – as performed by Bill Bryson – was your favourite?
This headline isn't helpful. Bill Bryson is a great narrator and I would only buy his books narrated by him as his syntax is unique and so those who try to read it in his style often come up short by comparison to him.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
the year that shaped a century.
Any additional comments?
Loved it and would recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by how things today came about.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alan S.
- 21-08-21
Bryson does it again
Fascinating in-depth account of a year in America. Loads of well researched material. worthwhile
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Elisa
- 28-03-14
Fascinating and Funny
What did you like most about One Summer?
A really interesting look at a world that is so completely different to our own now in the birth of technology and media but of course just the same in the nature of humanity.
What other book might you compare One Summer to, and why?
Any other Bill Bryson book!
Which scene did you most enjoy?
There were a lot of really gripping stories in this book. Anything with Babe Ruth in it! But I was confused in the end about the Italian duo - there was a lot of time at the beginning of the novel when Bryson seemed to be building up a case that they were probably innocent and then at the end it seemed that experts now think they were probably guilty. But I did take quite a while to get through this book (Christmas holidays were busy) so maybe I just remembered it wrong!
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
it made me laugh or chuckle out loud quite a few times
Any additional comments?
Bill Bryson's dry delivery was very good.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Tim Whittle
- 14-12-13
Fascinating
If you could sum up One Summer in three words, what would they be?
An interesting insight
What other book might you compare One Summer to, and why?
Difficult to compare to anything I have read our listened to before.
What about Bill Bryson’s performance did you like?
I thought the fact that Bill performed his own work gave it a lot more feeling
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Scope is to big for just one film
Any additional comments?
This is the first Bill Bryson book I have read our listened to. It is also the first work of non fiction have read for many years. It gives a fascinating insight into a very short, but important, window of US history which has had a knock on effect on all of our lives whether we realise it or not
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Frank Cummins
- 16-02-19
So much can happen in a year!
Based around the achievements of Lindbergh but there is so much more in this book, including facts about prohibition, Al Capone, the Great Depression, Murder and the achievements of Babe Ruth. I particularly like the stories of Babe Ruth, his journey from poverty to worldwide fame and then the price of that fame. A good book which is well narrated by Mr Bryson.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Eleanor
- 04-02-15
I learnt so much!
Mesmiring and all stories beautifully entwined. An excellent accompaniment to my long Sunday runs. Bravo.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Annie V
- 09-05-15
Brilliant
A fascinating account of a short period of American history. It's packed with amazing characters and events you couldn't invent.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Esther
- 12-01-14
Not his best book, but informative
I have read and /or listened to all of Bill Bryson's books and they are all good although some more than others. This one is NOT funny, but a fairly dry and somewhat laboured account of a few topics that were current in the summer of 1927. You have to be very interested in the many attempts to fly the Atlantic (which I kind of was) and in baseball at the time of Babe Ruth - an icon in the US, but not of huge interest to me. I like Bill Bryson's narration which is very restful and overall it did what it said on the tin.
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