At Home：A Short History of Private Life

Fromoneofthemostbelovedauthorsofourtime—morethansixmillioncopiesofhisbookshavebeensoldinthiscountryalone—afascinatingexcursionintothehistorybehindtheplacewecallhome.“Housesaren’trefugesfromhistory.Theyarewherehistoryendsup.”BillBrysonandhisfamilyliveinaVictorianparsonageinapartofEnglandwherenothingofanygreatsignificancehashappenedsincetheRomansdecamped.Yetoneday,hebegantoconsiderhowverylittleheknewabouttheordinarythingsoflifeashefounditinthatcomfortablehome.Toremedythis,heformedtheideaofjourneyingabouthishousefromroomtoroomto“writeahistoryoftheworldwithoutleavinghome.”Thebathroomprovidestheoccasionforahistoryofhygiene;thebedroom,sex,death,andsleep;thekitchen,nutritionandthespicetrade;andsoon,asBrysonshowshoweachhasfig?uredintheevolutionofprivatelife.Whateverhappensintheworld,hedemonstrates,endsupinourhouse,inthepaintandthepipesandthepillowsandeveryitemoffurniture.BillBrysonhasoneoftheliveliest,mostinquisitivemindsontheplanet,andheisamasteratturningtheseeminglyisolatedormundanefactintoanoccasionforthemostdivertingexposi?tionimaginable.HiswitandsheerprosefluencymakeAtHomeoneofthemostentertainingbookseverwrittenaboutprivatelife.