Book info

• Title Full Circle
• Author Michael Palin
• Year 1997
• Genre Travel

For almost a year, Michael Palin travelled through 18 countries on the perimeter of the world's largest ocean, in a spectacular journey of contrasts, drama and beauty. From head-hunters in Borneo to a meal of maggots in Mexico, his route takes him to some of the most politically volatile and physically demanding places on Earth. Whether climbing the Exalted Mountains in China, dodging icebergs in Chile, or being taken short on the banks of the Amazon, Michael Palin paints a vivid picture of the people and places around him.

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book, more than the previous Palin outings, although they all stand up in their own right. There’s something about this one though, perhaps because there was no specific time pressure or stress in the normal way. I love the concept, it’s a great idea and not only visits a lot of countries that are usually missed off the travel agenda, but also shows some great variety in wealth and development.

Also, at this point in Palin’s travel career, he’s returning to places he’s already been and seeing how they’ve changed which is also fascinating to learn about.

Rating: 5 / 5