• The Lost Continent

  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: Kerry Shales
  • Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
  • 3.3 out of 5 stars (15 ratings)

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The Lost Continent  By  cover art

The Lost Continent

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Kerry Shales
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Publisher's summary

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.

Travel through small-town America with Kerry Shale's popular BBC Radio 4 reading of Bill Bryson's comic travelogue.

©1993, 2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)1993, 2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd

Critic reviews

"Hilarious....He can be suave, sarcastic and very funny..not your typical travel writer." (Sunday Telegraph)

What listeners say about The Lost Continent

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

ICK!

I love Bill Bryson's work. Always warm, with a good bit of humor. Listening to his work is always a pleasure with his unique drawl.

THIS READING IS TERRIBLE! The reader on this book is NOT Bryson. He reminds me of the old Fed Ex guy talking so fast as if he can't wait to get it over with. His voice is full of anger and impatience. Every time the reader "does a voice" it sounds like everybody is from the deep south (hint... Des Moines Iowa is in the midwest).

I regret wasting space on my iPod for this pathetic reading. Download any other Bryson work and you'll love it, but avoid this one!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

An awful reading of this book

Unlike all the other Bill Bryson books offered by Audible, this book is NOT read by the author. I have downloaded every other book here, but will avoid this one. Just click on "Hear Sample". This reader appears to be in a real hurry to finish the book! I was look forward to adding this audio book to my collection, but will read it myself in good old paper format.

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3 people found this helpful