Countries/Regions visited: Greenland, Norway, Finland, USSR (Estonia & Ukraine) Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Chile, Antarctica

In Pole to Pole, the second of Michael Palin’s travelogues, the former Python and now world traveller, undertakes a new challenge of travelling from North Pole to South Pole. As with his previous journey, the book was meant to accompany the BBC television series of the same name that was released around the same time.

Unlike 1989’s Around the World in 80s Days, which saw Palin follow Phileas Fog’s horizontal trip around the world, Palin now undertakes a more vertically-oriented journey from North to South. This time the 30-degree East Line of longitude is used as a guide and much like his previous journey, air travel is avoided as much as possible.

Not having to follow the rigid timeline of his previous journey allows Palin to spend more time in each of the countries he visits. This was the only downside we found in Around the World in 80 Days where some countries were passed over quite quickly. This time, Pole to Pole sees Palin visit 17 countries across three continents over the course of a lengthier five-month journey.

The book is once again presented as a travel diary, dedicating each chapter to a day within Palin’s long journey. Palin’s writing style is a perfect blend of facts and humour that makes reading Pole to Pole a breeze.

Palin’s second journey coincided with a number of significant global events. From the end of the Soviet Union to the end of Apartheid in South Africa, 1991 (when the trip was undertaken) would have been a historic year to travel through many of the countries Palin visits in Pole to Pole. The book provides the reader with a snapshot of a time of significant change across the globe from the point of view of someone who was lucky enough to have been there as it happened.

Pole to Pole was the perfect follow up to Around the World in 80 days. The lengthier journey this time round was beneficial to both Palin and the reader as each location visited is explored in greater depth and detail using the same wit and humour we have grown accustomed to and would continue to enjoy in Palin’s future adventures.