Around The World In Eighty Days
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The first of Palin's highly acclaimed travel trilogy, Around the World in 80 Days finds the former Monty Python comic swapping his dead parrot for his rucksack, and setting off in the footsteps of Jules Verne's intrepid traveller, Phileas Fogg. In 1872 Fogg set off from The Reform Club in London on an 80-day journey around the globe which took him through southern Europe, the Middle East, China and the USA.
Palin's journey is no less hectic and incident-packed than his illustrious predecessor, as he pursues Fogg in an increasingly frenetic attempt to get back to the Reform Club within the allotted 80 days. Along the way we are treated to Palin's trademark traveller's tales and bizarre journeys, from the idyllic but at times traumatic medieval boat journey across the Indian Ocean, to dog-sledding and ballooning across the USA. Some of the finest sections come with Palin's often hilarious accounts of cultural confusion encountered throughout India and the Far East. Around the World in 80 Days is full of what has made Palin such a popular and enjoyable travel writer: wry, humorous, but ultimately humane observations on the world's foibles, and the pleasure and pains of travelling. --Jerry Brotton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
'The pace of this kind of travel has not much changed since Fogg set out in 1872. Trains may be a little faster, but there are certainly no high-speed rail links yet across India, China or the USA. Passenger services have practically disappeared from the world's shipping lanes ... Recourse to air travel, even as a convenient means of escape, was not allowed.' Following the route taken by Phileas Fogg 115 years earlier, Michael Palin set out from the Reform Club to circumnavigate the world. The rules were simple, but nothing else about the trip was straightforward... From a tour of Venice on a rubbish barge to ship spotting at the Suez Canal and the bicycle rush hour and snake snacks in China, this is an unparalleled tribute to man's ability to make life difficult for himself.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Michael Palin Books What can i say they are a must have for the travell book lover.
They are funny and they show lifestyle's from all over the world.
Around The World In 80 Days is the first TV journey Palin made and also with the most suspense.
This book that comes with the TV show is beautiful, great pictures and stories
and the book itself is of high quality (paper,binding etc.)
J. van der Heijden
The Netherlands
They are funny and they show lifestyle's from all over the world.
Around The World In 80 Days is the first TV journey Palin made and also with the most suspense.
This book that comes with the TV show is beautiful, great pictures and stories
and the book itself is of high quality (paper,binding etc.)
J. van der Heijden
The Netherlands
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The recent "Children in Need" Challenge to get around the world in 80 days through any means other than air enticed me to read this book again, some 22 years after watching it on TV (was it really that long ago?!).
This was the first in a number of televised travelogues which Palin undertook over the next decade or so, and as a TV series for me, remains the best. Essentially it is a diary of his travels, and is interesting when Palin is actually within the borders of a country and describe the peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of each county - you get a sense India made the most impact. It is also interesting as a historical document where his comments about the construction of the Channel Tunnel and the riches that Dubai was attracting raising a wry smile.
Whilst I understand it is based on the travels of Verne's Fogg, sometimes I felt the book dwelled too much on how Palin was faring against Fogg, particularly as the latter was a fictional character, rather than detailing some of the wonderous and strange sites which must have been witnessed. However, you do get the sense of the stresses and also the bordem involved in circumnavigating the world in this manner; the voyage on the Dhou is interesting, some of the voyages on sea containers less so.
It is also interesting that the most recent challenge by Children in Need relied more on land travel across much of the former Soviet land...presumably this was either not possible when Palin did it, or did he choose his route to be a close to that as the fictional Fogg as possible?
However, an interesting book, which I did find easy to pick up, read a couple of days and put down again, with some amusing asides, as one would expect from one of the Pythons...and also interesting (for me on a personal level) that Palins son turned 18 the same day as me.....spooky. Read in conjunction with re-watching the TV series it is great, but as a stand alone read for someone really interested in travel does not really go into the detail as much as others.
This was the first in a number of televised travelogues which Palin undertook over the next decade or so, and as a TV series for me, remains the best. Essentially it is a diary of his travels, and is interesting when Palin is actually within the borders of a country and describe the peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of each county - you get a sense India made the most impact. It is also interesting as a historical document where his comments about the construction of the Channel Tunnel and the riches that Dubai was attracting raising a wry smile.
Whilst I understand it is based on the travels of Verne's Fogg, sometimes I felt the book dwelled too much on how Palin was faring against Fogg, particularly as the latter was a fictional character, rather than detailing some of the wonderous and strange sites which must have been witnessed. However, you do get the sense of the stresses and also the bordem involved in circumnavigating the world in this manner; the voyage on the Dhou is interesting, some of the voyages on sea containers less so.
It is also interesting that the most recent challenge by Children in Need relied more on land travel across much of the former Soviet land...presumably this was either not possible when Palin did it, or did he choose his route to be a close to that as the fictional Fogg as possible?
However, an interesting book, which I did find easy to pick up, read a couple of days and put down again, with some amusing asides, as one would expect from one of the Pythons...and also interesting (for me on a personal level) that Palins son turned 18 the same day as me.....spooky. Read in conjunction with re-watching the TV series it is great, but as a stand alone read for someone really interested in travel does not really go into the detail as much as others.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read Pole to Pole & Full Circle (as well as watching various bits of his programs courtesy of the history channel!) I thought this particular one would be another case of Mr Palin using a tawdry, overly ambitious idea and not much enjoying the result.
However I was wrong! As this was supposedly his first expedition it has that wonderful virgin territory quality and has all the joy and very little of the occasional malaise of his later trips. The sheer happiness Michael finds in visiting India and China (which he'd never visited before) and his teasing, slightly mocking tone towards Phileas Fogg's own experiences make this book an absolute joy to read.
And the best thing? Because this was written when the author was predominantly a comic actor and not a travel writer, it has a wonderful humour to it that helps the trip seem a breeze.
My one criticism would have to be the latter part of the trip - in America. Although bits of it are fun, one gets the impression the author was out for camera shots at this point and had lost interest in new horizons. However, the train trip is interesting...
Anyhow, as an book for a holiday reading this is one of Palin's best combining both his skills as a comic and as a traveller in perfect balance. Oh and, if you like this, do try A Piano in the Pyrenees or Long Way Round.
However I was wrong! As this was supposedly his first expedition it has that wonderful virgin territory quality and has all the joy and very little of the occasional malaise of his later trips. The sheer happiness Michael finds in visiting India and China (which he'd never visited before) and his teasing, slightly mocking tone towards Phileas Fogg's own experiences make this book an absolute joy to read.
And the best thing? Because this was written when the author was predominantly a comic actor and not a travel writer, it has a wonderful humour to it that helps the trip seem a breeze.
My one criticism would have to be the latter part of the trip - in America. Although bits of it are fun, one gets the impression the author was out for camera shots at this point and had lost interest in new horizons. However, the train trip is interesting...
Anyhow, as an book for a holiday reading this is one of Palin's best combining both his skills as a comic and as a traveller in perfect balance. Oh and, if you like this, do try A Piano in the Pyrenees or Long Way Round.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Some Journey
Very interesting, especially the part around Indonesia as this share a special part of my life.
A Very good read and well written. Not at all in luxury I might add
A Very good read and well written. Not at all in luxury I might add
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by L. Connett
travel
Disapointing as there is just an added updated chapter and nothing different to the original books script and fotos. I was expecting something more. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2009 by Anthony J. Gleave
Entertaining
Perfect book for when you are holiday or dreaming of one. Michael Palins easy writing stlyle and narration make this a joy to listen to. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2003 by Cormac O'boyle
Not an impressive book
I found Michael Palin's book to be unimpressive and disappointing. There appeared to be no flow to his writing, he went into too much detail on irrelevant points such as the names... Read more
Published on 22 April 2002 by claire_o_donnell@hotmail.com
Very entertaining
Michael Palin shares his experience of going around the world in 80 days, like the fictional character Philias Fogg, but he explains everything in an easier way. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2001 by stephanie greenwood
I think Michael Palin is our generations Ernest Hemingway
I think Michael Palin is like Ernest Hemingway because he takes people who can not afford to go round the world just like Ernest did for him
Published on 14 Mar 2000
A wonderful book
As a huge Palin fan I was absorbed by this book. I personally feel this is the best out of all his travel writing. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2000
Fabulous !!!
Fabulous - the ideal travel guide for us armchair tourists !! Within the comfort of your own living - room/bedroom or commuting to and from work, you can safely navigate yourself... Read more
Published on 20 Oct 1999
Entertaining and light
The book could be described more accurately as a "transit tale" than a "travel tale." Palin describes the stress and boredom of trying to circumnavigate the... Read more
Published on 9 Aug 1999
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