Play Book Tag discussion

Around the World – Matt Phelan
3***

Phelan noted that at the end of the 19th century the public was inspired by Jules Vernes’ adventures, particularly Around the World in 80 Days . In this graphic novel, Phelan relates the stories of three such individuals: Thomas Stevens (who set out in 1884 to bicycle around the globe); Nellie Bly (setting out in 1889 with a goal of besting the fictional Phileas Fogg’s record by several days), and Joshua Slocum (who set sail in a 36-foot boat he had rebuilt himself, for what would become a 3-year round the world solo journey).

Phelan’s illustrations are marvelously detailed and advance the stories quickly, so that he’s able to give a good overview of each explorer’s journey in one book. Of the three profiled, Slocum, a retired sea captain, was the only one who had previously journeyed far afield. I particularly liked Nellie Bly’s mantra: “If you want to do it, you can do it!”


LINK to my review