Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure

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Michael Palin

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Pages: 128 (Paperback)

ISBN: 0752837060

Pub: Orion mass market paperback

Pub date: 2001-09-06

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 88392

Editorial Review:

Michael Palin's popularity as a travel writer and TV presenter is at its zenith. His likeable, unassuming personality and accessible approach to challenging foreign journeys is the perfect conduit for the reader and viewer: Palin does not come across as a hardy adventurer, but just as we ourselves might be if we were coping with exotic and bizarre locales. Hemingway's Adventure represents a remarkable progression and is probably his most engrossing book yet. Writing about Hemingway in Hemingway's Chair, Palin became fascinated with the life and travels of the hard-living writer. As he re-traces the writer's footsteps across the globe, he encounters an army of remarkable characters in his search for the truth behind the legend. From the writer's haunts as a child in North Michigan to the battlefields of Northern Italy, we are taken on a compelling and colourful epic journey that takes in running the bulls at Pamplona, dangerous safaris in Kenya and Uganda and (of course) Hemingway's beloved marlin fishing in Cuba. Palin's eye is as sharp and vivid as ever. Carnival in Venice, for instance, is presented in striking detail. The book itself is a beautiful object too: illustrated with many images from the TV series, it's likely to be on many a Christmas shopping list.-- Barry Forshaw

Reader Reviews:

Pulls you into the world of Hemingway (1/1 people found this helpful)

This is another great travel book by Michael Palin but, for me, it started off quite slowly and felt like any other TV Travel book.

However as it went on the book got more and more interesting, and for someone who hasn't seen the series or read much Hemingway, it really felt as though I was reading a short but thorough biography of him.

It made a good book to read on holiday and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys travel writing and/or Hemingway.

Brilliant (4/4 people found this helpful)

This is another brilliant account of a Palin journey. It is very specific in it's remit but still covers some incredible countries. It has the usual beautifully reproduced photography and is written with Palin's wonderful sense of description and humour. He visits such varied places and culture on this trip that there is something for everyone in this book. A great piece of travel literature.

An interest in Hemingway's authorship is not necessary (5/5 people found this helpful)

I really like Michael Palin's travel documentaries, both the BBC TV programs and the books based on the programs. He has a knack for finding interesting people and places, and he presents it all with wit and charm and a personal engagement that is beguiling. The books are beautiful with lots of great color pictures, most taken by photographer Basil Pao.

This book is based on the BBC TV program where Mr. Palin traveled to all of the places where Ernest Hemingway had lived and traveled. One can't really say the program "follows Hemingway's footsteps" because some sequences are presented out of order, but it's all there:

Chicago and northern Illinois (Hemingway's youth)
Italy (WW I and duck hunting)
Paris (Hemingway's start as an author)
Spain (running with the bulls, bullfighting)
Key West (fishing, boxing)
Africa (hunting, airplane crash injuries)
Cuba (fishing, Hemingway's home for 20 years)
Montana and Idaho (dude ranches, Hemingway's death)

Each chapter that describes a place almost invariably leaves the reader smiling and thinking that it would be interesting to visit that place oneself.

Incidentally, my high opinion of this book (and the associated TV program) has nothing to do with any interest in Hemingway's authorship. I read "The Old Man and the Sea" when I was in high school, and have not read anything by Hemingway since. Still, I find his life interesting, and I think that Michael Palin has made a great travelogue by visiting the various places and telling about Hemingway's life.

I can especially recommend the audio version of this book, which is read by Michael Palin himself. He does a great job of delivering the dialog of the various people, all with their different accents.

Of course, the audio version of the book does not include the beautiful photographs, so the very best strategy might be to get both, and listen to the audio version while commuting and then look at the pictures when you get home.

Rennie Petersen

An amazing journey in Hemingway's footsteps. (9/9 people found this helpful)

This book takes you on a journey through different continents and cultures. It allows you to travel the world in the company of a traveller who is not only experienced, but also sensitive to local customs and traditions.

As you read it you get to know not only the author, but you feel as if you have spent time in Hemingway's company. The book is richly illustrated with stunning photographs which tell a lot in addition to the printed text.

The numerous quotations from Hemingway's novels help to make the book more coherent, and also give insight on Hemingway's life.

An excellent read for Hemingway fans, for those who know little or nothing about him, or for anyone who is interested in seeing different cultures and ways of life.

Starts off quite well, peters out later. (1/4 people found this helpful)

This book begins with great promise, and was very enjoyable up to the last two or three chapters. He seemed to run out of ideas as to how he was going to finish the story, and ended very unsatisfactorily, in my opinion. Have re-cycled my copy to a charity shop.

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