Around the World in 80 Days

#339
Title: Around the World in 80 Days
Author: Michael Palin
Year: 1995/1999
Publisher: BBC Consumer Publishing
256 pages

Read as an audiobook narrated by the author, then looked at the photos.

Palin and his film crew attempt a mid-1980's voyage with forms of transportation comparable to Fogg's. While some speed was made up by improvements in technology, this was balanced by three factors: The delays associated with a film crew and all of its equipment,  the contemporary lack of passenger services on train and ship routes in the age of the airplane, and customs and border crossing formalities. Though the premise appears similar to Verne's, Palin wants to see the sights and meet people. It is interesting to read this narrative, which preceded Palin's other BBC travel series and The Amazing Race.