Bryson tops poll of books that capture modern England

Bill Bryson, the American whose comic travel books have turned him into a British institution, has confirmed his status as a national mascot by topping a poll to discover the book that best represents contemporary England.

The feelgood factor prevailed as Notes from a Small Island, the Iowa-born writer's best-selling account of his tour around Britain, headed a survey conducted to celebrate World Book Day today. Bryson, who is planning to return to these shores after a spell living in New Hampshire, said: "It's especially pleasing that my affection for the country has been recognised at this time."

His wryly sympathetic take on a self-critical nation he still regards as "the best place in the world for most things" defeated other shortlisted titles which told a harsher tale of English life. They included George Monbiot's polemic Captive State, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, and Jonathan Coe's Thatcher-era satire What a Carve Up!

Simultaneous polls tried to define the condition of the UK's other nations through recent books. In Scotland, the optimists also triumphed as Des Dillon's novel of childhood, Me and Ma Girl, emerged ahead of gloomier rivals such as Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh. In Northern Ireland, Annie McCartney came top with Desire Lines; while in Wales, Lewis Davies's Work, Sex and Rugby outpointed the great, late poet R S Thomas.

World Book Day aims to drum up fresh enthusiasm for reading with high-profile stunts and promotions. Most successful has been the annual distribution of 14 million £1 book tokens to schoolchildren. They can then be exchanged in shops for specially published children's books. And the train operator Midland Mainline has set up a book-swap service, based at Derby station, which allows passengers to hand in titles and choose new ones.