Countries Visited: United States, Italy, France, Spain, Kenya, Cuba

Having travelled the vertical and horizontal expanses of the world, as well as circumnavigating the world’s largest ocean, former member of Monty Python, and now seasoned world traveller attempts something different in 1999’s Hemingway Adventure. As the title would suggest, Palin’s forth big adventure focuses heavily on Ernst Hemingway and some of the important locations in his life.

Hemingway Adventure is unique amongst Palin’s travelogues as it is the only example whereby the writer travels in the footsteps of others rather than embarking on his own adventure. It is clear that Palin is a great admirer of Hemingway’s work and travels making the choice of subject matter perfect. The linear, diary-like writing style found in Palin’s previous books is absent this time, with each chapter dedicated to an important location in Hemingway’s life.

As a result, the book reads like a travelogue intertwined with a biography on the famous American writer. Hemmingway Adventure begins and ends in the United States, with Palin visiting Hemingway’s birthplace in Oak Park, Illinois and his final resting place in Ketchum, Idaho. In between these chapters were taken across the world to location’s that inspired some of Hemingway’s famous works such as Pamplona, Spain, from the writers first book The Sun Also Rises.

Although not on the same scale as his previous travelogues, Hemingway Adventure is still an enjoyable read that is as humorous and informative as any of Palin’s previous adventures. Once again, this journey was also the literary accompaniment to the BBC television series of the same name also released in 1999.