With his debut travelogue The Palace Under the Alps and Over 200 Other Unusual, Unspoiled, and Infrequently Visited Spots in 16 European Countries, Bill Bryson stepped his first foot on the world of literature. The reputed American author, who is widely acclaimed for his humorous travel stories, was born in December 8, 1951 at Des Moines, Iowa.



Bill Bryson is also known for some marvellous piece of writings on the English Language like The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got That Way, Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States and Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words. His books on origin of language bears some of the unknown facts of this beautiful language of which only a very few of us are aware. It is a great help for the students of language as well as writers, journalists and those who have an inclination for learning the language. His books on language were so popular that the book The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got That Way, is broadcasted in the BBC 4 Radio Production under the title" Journeys in English".

In 2003, he published a book on science titled A Short History of Nearly Everything illustrates his brilliant writing abilities. He is a travel writer, linguist as well as a biographer. The biography on reputed English dramatist, poet and novelist, William Shakespeare which is published under the title Shakespeare: The World as Stage clearly tells us that Bill Bryson is no ordinary writer, but a paragon.

For his contributions to literature he also achieved various awards and recognitions. He received the honorary OBE on Dec 13,2006 and after that he was awarded the prestigious James Joyce Award of the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin. For his general science book A Short History of Nearly Everything, he won the glamorous Aventis Prize. It is one of his significant creations where he describes vividly the various aspects of science. He also highlights the present developments of science and about their humorous beginnings. Bill Bryson is greatly loved by the book lovers. His interests are varied and the most remarkable thing about this writer is that he is equally proficient in what ever subject he writes about. Because of the variety and humorous nature of his writings he is a favourite of many readers.