Around the World in Eighty Days [Hardcover]

Michael Palin (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: British Broadcasting Corporation Publications (1990)
• ASIN: B000HMJN7M
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Monty Python's Excellent Adventure, August 15, 1998

By 

sashley "sashley" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around the World in 80 Days: Companion to the Pbs Series (Best of the BBC) (Paperback)

In 1988, Michael Palin (of Monty Python and "A Fish Called Wanda" fame) set out to recreate the voyage described in Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days". The trip was recorded for a BBC series, but Palin's book stands on its own. The book is a journal written aboard the ships, boats, trains and dog sleds Palin used to make his way from London through Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, America, and the Atlantic Ocean, back to London again. The journal is whimsically illustrated in the manner of a family album: with maps, stamps, ticket stubs and lots of photos.

Palin is an excellent tale-teller, and even the delays are good reading. At each port, Palin makes an effort to get to know the place and its inhabitants. The results are always interesting, and often hilarious. My favorite part of the book? Palin's description of the rite of passage he went through upon crossing the International Date Line. He and the other novice sailors donned burlap loin cloths and were forced to pay homage to the god Neptune (really, the ship's electrician). During a particularly extreme portion of the initiation, Palin remarks, "this is worse than being in a Terry Gilliam film". All in all, Palin's "Around the World in 80 Days" was the idea travel book: funny, informative, and in the end, a nail biter! Does Palin make it back to London in time? Do you think I'd actually tell you?!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The trip that started Michael Palin's new career, January 8, 2006

By 

Rennie Petersen (Copenhagen, Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Around the World in Eighty Days : With Michael Palin (Paperback)

"Around the World in 80 Days" is the book based on the TV travelogue that Michael Palin made for the BBC in 1988. This travelogue was such a success that it started a whole series of TV programs over the following years: "Pole to Pole", "Full Circle", "Hemingway Adventure", "Sahara" and "Himalaya".

The trip was intended to follow the route traveled by Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's novel from 1872. The self-imposed rule was that airplane travel was not allowed so only trains, buses, ships and cars could be used. This was problematic for Michael Palin because in 1872 there were many passenger ship lines, while in 1988 there were almost none because of air travel. As a result he had to obtain passage on various cargo and container ships that normally don't accept passengers.

All of Michael Palin's travel books (and DVDs) share the same qualities. Mr. Palin's wit and charm and exuberance are evident, and he has a knack of meeting interesting people and getting involved in amusing situations wherever he goes.

This trip is, however, unlike the others in that there is a pre-defined route involving a lot of sea travel, and a "race against the clock" element because the trip must be completed in 80 days. The time limit provides a bit of excitement, especially when Michael Palin passes through Singapore 10 days behind the fictitious Phileas Fogg.

The large amount of sea travel is a negative aspect because it's limited how many interesting things can be done aboard a container ship, for example. In fact, a significant number of the 80 days are spent on board ships, and it gets rather boring.

Still, there are many interesting experiences reported and photographed from the various cities passed through, as well as the countryside. The cultural differences are amazing and Michael Palin reports on it all in a way that makes you feel like you're there with him.

The pictures are beautiful, even though they were not all taken by Basil Pao, who became Michael Palin's regular stills photographer on all of his later trips.

My only criticism is that I would have liked there to be some maps in the book so I could follow the trip more exactly.

The audio version of this book is read by Michael Palin himself, which is a plus. But beware: There are both abridged and unabridged versions of the audio book.

In summary, a great start for what became a great series of travel books and TV programs.

Rennie Petersen

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proving Jules Verne right, August 13, 2004

By 

Martin Mulcahey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around the World in 80 Days: Companion to the Pbs Series (Best of the BBC) (Paperback)

Probably the best of Palin's travelogues, or maybe I enjoyed it most because it introduced me to his offbeat travel series? I rate it the best because Palin comes in contact with the most cultures in this one. Proof that Palin's comedy does indeed work all over the world. I would pick this one up before Full circle, Hemingway Adventure, Full Circle, Pole to Pole, and Sahara in that order. But you can not go wrong with any of the books, or videos for that matter.