Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson | |
|---|---|
 Bryson in 2018 | |
| Chancellor of Durham University | |
| In office 5 November 2005 – 31 December 2011 | |
| Vice-Chancellor | |
| Preceded by | Peter Ustinov |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William McGuire Bryson 8 December 1951 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Citizenship | United States United Kingdom |
| Spouse |
Cynthia Billen (m. 1975) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Drake University (BA) |
William McGuire Bryson (/ˈbraɪsən/ BRYE-sən; born 8 December 1951) is an American journalist and author who was naturalized as a British citizen in 2014. Bryson has written nonfiction books on topics including travel, the English language, and science. Bryson moved to Britain in his twenties and remained in the country for most of his adult life. However, he periodically returned to live in the U.S. such as between 1995 and 2003. He was the chancellor of Durham University from 2005 to 2011.
In 1995, while in the United Kingdom, Bryson wrote Notes from a Small Island, an exploration of Britain. In 2003, he authored A Short History of Nearly Everything. In October 2020, he retired from writing books. He has sold over 16 million books worldwide. He recorded an audiobook for Audible, The Secret History of Christmas, in 2022.