Pole to Pole With Michael Palin: North to South by Camel, River Raft, and Balloon (Companion to the Pbs Series)
Pole to Pole With Michael Palin: North to South by Camel, River Raft, and Balloon (Companion to the Pbs Series) book cover

Pole to Pole With Michael Palin: North to South by Camel, River Raft, and Balloon (Companion to the Pbs Series)

Paperback – January 1, 1992

by
Price
$18.10
Format
Paperback
Pages
324
Publisher
Bay Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0912333410
Dimensions
7.5 x 1 x 9.75 inches
Weight
9.6 ounces

Description

Actor Michael Palin has managed to keep busy since his days with the British comedy group Monty Python. First, he traveled Around the World in 80 Days while a BBC crew filmed his adventures; in Pole to Pole , Palin once again straps on his old kit bag--this time to traverse the globe from north to south. Accompanied once again by a dauntless film crew, Palin begins in the far, frozen wastes of the Arctic Circle, then passes through 17 countries, including Norway, the former USSR, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, and Chile, before standing at last at the South Pole. Along the way the company is faced with revolution, illness and injury, and not a few bumpy plane rides--occurrences they meet with the obligatory stiff upper lip. Palin also rides in a hot air balloon, acquires a camel, consults a witch doctor, and plunges into the heart of a South African diamond mine, two kilometers beneath the surface of the earth. These adventures and more are related in Palin's journal entries and illustrated by dozens of color and black-and-white photographs. The best travel stories often chronicle trips no sane person would care to experience herself; in Pole to Pole , Michael Palin has done the suffering for us, leaving readers to enjoy the humor, excitement, and joy of exotic climes from the comfort of our armchairs.

Features & Highlights

  • In the tie-in to the Spring PBS series, the British actor details his adventures around the world as he and his film crew travel logitudinally from North Pole to South Pole. Original. TV tie-in. 25,000 first printing. IP.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(165)
★★★★
25%
(138)
★★★
15%
(83)
★★
7%
(39)
★
23%
(125)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

A Great Travel Book

In this, the best of his travel works (see also Around the World in 80 Days and Full Circle), Palin travels along the 30 degree longitude line, which takes him to many rarely-travelled places, including Chernobyl and parts of Africa where there simply are no roads to travel.
Throughout, Palin is witty and insightful, and one wishes they were with him (except for the scene with the maggots). While travel writing might seem boring, Palin makes it interesting, and exciting. I devoured all his travel books within a very short period of time, and was left wanting more.
16 people found this helpful
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It's like I was there, but in book form!

I actually purchased the book before seeing the series, noting the name Michael Palin on the cover, and remembering his adventures around the world in 80 days. The fact that I did not see the show somehow made the book more enjoyable to read. Palin has a very descriptive, yet easy-to-follow writing style, which helped me vividly imagine the exotic locales & various personalities. Of course, the photos by Basil Pao helped a lot. All in all, great work, so much so that it doesn't feel like a TV companion, but a travelogue that can stand strongly on its own.
4 people found this helpful
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An unique Travelogue

An unique journey from the North Pole to the South. Along the 30 degree East line of the longitude. Palin recorded all his exciting encounters and experiences in this remarkable travelogue.Provided great entertainment for arm-chair travellers.
1 people found this helpful
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Comments

This item was a gift. Received in good condition and in ample time. Receiver was most pleased since he was unable to buy this book at a local book store.
✓ Verified Purchase

Interesting , however it becomes boring very quickly.

Michael Palin likes his travel and he keeps good journals , He took on an interesting trip and his write up is a good list of observations on his trip. It is an easy read and I had a hard time focusing in his story because a lot of the writes wer similar in style .
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A traveler's wish

Wouldn't it be great to travel like Michael Palin, from North to South Pole. If you read what he has to say about it you can think of both good and bad things. In Africa he seems to be constantly sick but he also sees incredible things and he finally makes it! The TV series was better because you could see things, but this is great too.

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