description Neither Here nor There Overview
"Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe" is a 1991 travelogue by the American author Bill Bryson. The book documents his journey as he retraces a backpacking trip he took across the continent during the early 1970s. Traveling alone, Bryson visits major European cities, including Paris, Rome, and Stockholm, using public transit and staying in modest accommodations. The narrative combines historical observations and cultural commentary with Bryson's characteristic humor, detailing the everyday frustrations and unique encounters experienced by a tourist navigating unfamiliar regions.
insights Ranking position
Neither Here nor There ranks #83 of 178 in the Travelogue ranking, behind The Maine Woods, ahead of Desert, Marsh and Mountain.
help Neither Here nor There FAQ
What route does Bill Bryson take in Neither Here nor There?
Bryson begins in Hammerfest, Norway, before traveling through cities including Oslo, Paris, Rome, and Vienna and continuing toward Istanbul. The journey loosely retraces a European trip he made as a young man with his friend Stephen Katz.
Is Stephen Katz actually with Bryson in Neither Here nor There?
Katz appears mainly through Bryson's memories of their earlier trip rather than accompanying the 1990s journey. He later becomes a central traveling companion in Bryson's A Walk in the Woods.
Is Neither Here nor There a practical European guidebook?
It is primarily a humorous travel narrative, not a current guide to hotels, rail passes, or prices. Published in 1991, its descriptions capture Europe around the end of the Cold War and should not be treated as modern logistical advice.
How does the book handle Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall?
Bryson travels through a continent changing rapidly after the political upheavals of 1989. His observations mix nostalgia for his early-1970s backpacking journey with reactions to the newer Europe he encounters.
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