Stephen Fry In America

Britain's best-loved comic genius Stephen Fry turns his celebrated wit and insight to unearthing the real America as he travels across the continent in his black taxicab. Stephen's account of his adventures is filled with his unique humour, insight and warmth in this beautifully illustrated book that accompanies his journey for the BBC1 series.             Stephen Fry is a treasure of the British Empire.' - The Guardian          Stephen Fry has always loved America; in fact he came very close to being born there. Here, his fascination for the country and its people sees him embark on an epic journey across America, visiting each of its 51 states to discover how such a huge diversity of people, cultures, languages, beliefs and landscapes combine to create such a remarkable nation.             Starting on the eastern seaboard, Stephen zig-zags across the country in his London taxicab, talking to its hospitable citizens, listening to its music, visiting its landmarks, viewing small-town life and America's breath-taking landscapes - following wherever his curiosity leads him.             Stephen meets a collection of remarkable individuals - American icons and unsung local heroes alike. He drops for tea with Steven Spielberg in Ohio, talks to George Bush on his ranch in Texas; visits Maine's most famous resident, Stephen King; meets Bill Gates in Washington; samples Memphis music courtesy of Aretha Franklin; and who better to talk about California than its governor Arnold Schwarzenegger?          But there are also unknown mayors, sheriffs, newspaper editors, park rangers, teachers and hobos that Stephen encounters, bringing to life the oddities and splendours of each locale. He discovers Oklahoma's World Cow Pat Throwing Contest, attends Independence Day Parades, cherry-pie bake-offs, and visits the heartland of the Sioux Nation in South Dakota.             Along the way, Stephen discovers that each state has its bizarre and quaint local laws - for example, did you know that in Alaska it is illegal to push a moose out of an aircraft, and in New Hampshire on Sundays, citizens may not relieve themselves while looking up?          A celebration of the magnificent and the eccentric, the beautiful and the strange, Stephen Fry's In America is our author's homage to this extraordinary country.