In many of his nostalgic reminiscences, laced by descriptions of a mother who couldn’t cook and who seemed focused elsewhere than upon her family and of a father whose ideas of fun vacations included penny-pinching excursions to obscure places, [Bill] Bryson strikes us as very much like eye-glassed and bunny-suited Ralphie, the narrator of the popular A Christmas Story movie.

Could we take the chance? Could we roll the dice?

The men have a short rifle and bayonet, and carry also a fascine knife; 10 rounds of ammunition in the pouch.

Nihilists! Fuck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos!