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Michael Palin
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North Korea Journal Kindle Edition

by Michael Palin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,209 ratings
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In this beautifully illustrated journal based on a TV documentary, writer, comedian and world traveller Michael Palin journeys to North Korea, offering a glimpse of life inside the world's most secretive country, uncovering surprises and making friends along the way.

In May 2018, former Monty Python stalwart and intrepid globetrotter Michael Palin ventured into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, camera crew in tow, to gain a glimpse of life in the most notoriously secretive and cut-off nation on earth. His resulting two-part documentary for Channel 5 fascinated millions and won universal plaudits.

Now he shares the journal he meticulously kept during his trip, in which he describes his experiences in a country wholly unlike any other he has ever visited: a country where you will find the Tallest Unoccupied Building in the World; where the residents of Pyongyang awake every morning to the strains of 'Where Are You, Dear General?', broadcast from speakers across the city; and where there are fifteen approved styles of haircut. He chronicles a journey of stark contrasts that takes in a gleamingly modern capital complete with triumphal statues and arches one day, and a countryside that has barely changed in decades on another. He travels to the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, to a centuries-old Confucian academy, and to the heart of North Korea's exquisitely beautiful mountains and lakes. He recounts conversations with official guides, teachers, propaganda artists, farmers and soldiers in which mutual incomprehension and shared humanity are constantly intermingled. And he muses on what makes people tick under a regime that to outsiders seems so utterly alien and so grimly authoritarian.

Written with Palin's trademark warmth and wit, and illustrated with beautiful colour photographs throughout, Palin's journal offers a rare insight into the North Korea behind the headlines.
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  1. Print length
    173 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Random House Canada
  5. Publication date
    November 5, 2019
  6. File size
    126698 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR MICHAEL PALIN AND HIS PREVIOUS BOOK, EREBUS:

“Palin is a gifted storyteller and has an unerring eye for illuminating anecdotes. His gripping account of the voyage of Erebus to Antarctica is particularly good and details an important period that will not be as familiar for many Franklin students. Palin’s treatment of work and daily life aboard the ships is engrossing.” —Canada’s History
 
“Michael Palin has written a rollicking biography of the legendary ship, told through the lives (and deaths) of the people who manned her on explorations of Antarctica and the Arctic. With this irresistible, sometimes funny and often harrowing account, he makes a convincing case that this one heroic little ship embodies the golden age of polar exploration better than any other.” —John Geiger, CEO of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Canadian Geographic

“An extraordinary book. . . . The little-known tale of the southern voyage, based on copious surviving records, is enthralling, but it’s Palin’s refusal to speculate on the thoughts and emotions of the 129 men aboard Franklin’s two ships before the last of them died that gives Erebus an eerie resonance.” —Maclean’s
 
“At once breezy and gripping. . . . [Palin’s] writing tone is conversational, skeptical, frequently on the lookout for the humorous. . . . It’s this kind of detail of everyday activity in an otherworldly environment that makes Erebus so intriguing. Palin is at his best when describing the rituals of life on board an isolated and cramped space.” —The Globe and Mail

“Beyond terrific. I didn’t want it to end.” —Bill Bryson

“Expertly written and masterfully crafted, Palin’s story of one ship’s two bold explorations successfully weaves together two hundred years of history into page-turning entertainment.” —Adam Shoalts

“What more could a reader ask for? Fascinating mystery, chilling adventure, compelling characters—one a powerful woman, another made of wood and sails—and simply terrific writing by Michael Palin.” —Roy MacGregor

“One robust little tub of a boat, two death-defying voyages to the ends of the earth. Palin has given us a fascinating account of the extraordinary courage of nineteenth-century British sailors and officers. Even the sturdiest vessel is dependent on luck, climate and its captain’s skills as he faces ferocious weather, and Palin illuminates with enthusiasm and respect this chilly history of a bomb ship that made its name first as a polar pioneer and then later as a watery tomb. Enthralling.” —Charlotte Gray

“At this late date, and against all odds, Michael Palin has found an original way to enter and explore the Royal Navy narrative of polar exploration. Palin is a superb stylist, low-key and conversational, who skillfully incorporates personal experience. He turns up obscure facts, reanimates essential moments, and never shies away from taking controversial positions. This beautifully produced volume—colour plates, outstanding maps—is a landmark achievement.” —Ken McGoogan

About the Author

MICHAEL PALIN has written and starred in numerous TV programmes and films, from Monty Python and Ripping Yarns to A Fish Called Wanda and The Death of Stalin. He has also made several much-acclaimed travel documentaries, his journeys taking him to the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe and Brazil. His books include accounts of his journeys, novels (Hemingway's Chair and The Truth), several volumes of diaries and Erebus: One Ship, Two Epic Voyages, and the Greatest Naval Mystery of All Time. From 2009 to 2012 he was president of the Royal Geographical Society. In 2018 he was the inaugural recipient of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's Louie Kamookak Medal. He received a BAFTA fellowship in 2013, and a knighthood in the 2019 New Year Honours list. He lives in London.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07SLVRP1D
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Canada (November 5, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 5, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 126698 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 173 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0735279829
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,209 ratings

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Michael Palin

Michael Palin

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Michael Palin has written and starred in numerous TV programmes and films, from Monty Python and Ripping Yarns to The Missionary and The Death of Stalin. He has also made several much-acclaimed travel documentaries, his journeys taking him to the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe and Brazil. His books include accounts of his journeys, novels (Hemingway’s Chair and The Truth) and several volumes of diaries. From 2009 to 2012 he was president of the Royal Geographical Society. He received a BAFTA fellowship in 2013, and a knighthood in the 2019 New Year Honours list. He lives in London.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,209 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Lewis & Bryant
5.0 out of 5 stars Details, perspectives, and facts on daily life in the DPRK that can’t be found anywhere else!
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2020
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As an avid North Korean book reader who has read and owns almost every book on the country released in English during the last twenty years, what impresses me now more than anything is when I read intimate details of daily NK life outside of the Capitol from reputable sources that I have never heard before. Similarly, I find anything that makes me look at well known NK facts and details through different lenses particularly impressive. With this book, Palin serves both, and for that reason, I read it start to finish in one sitting, as the anticipation of new details, new facts, and new perspectives made this book a real page turner. For any follower or expert on DPRK, this is a must have!

On a separate note, the hardcover version is especially remarkable. Quality in every aspect of the design, paper quality, and publish. Well done!
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EL
4.0 out of 5 stars A nearly perfect companion to the documentary film series
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019
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This is a beautifully designed hardcover with a rather heavy feel for its size. It is generously illustrated throughout, with a full-color photo on nearly every page and several two-page spreads. This makes for rather easy page-turning; the 2-week journal is savored easily in a couple of hours.

Mr. Palin leaves the reader with a balanced and fair view of the mysterious nation known by its loyal inhabitants as the “DPRK.“

Mr. Palin offers wonderful historical references where needed; for example, the necessary background on the DMZ. There are also several laugh-out-loud moments which illustrate Michael’s signature dry humor, which Python fans will appreciate; for example, when he attempts to purchase a postcard in Kaesong.

Other highlights include:

- [ ] The 15 approved men’s hair-styles
- [ ] The trip to the dark and secretive Mt. Paektu
- [ ] Michael Palin’s birthday
- [ ] The faux pas of shooting DPRKers from behind and the no-no of photo-cropping the Great Leaders’ statues
- [ ] The sighting of the Trump administration

Most of the book is reflected in film footage to be found online, but it is made clear by the end of the journal that some of their shots indeed had to be erased.

Shortcomings: I would have liked for the book to have contained a table of contents and an index. The chapter titles could have been more descriptive of the itinerary, rather than just stating the date. The images could have benefited from captions. One gets the impression this book was published in a hurry. More attention to detail in the utility of the book would have earned this book 5 stars.

Pluses: the NK map early in the book helps the reader follow and reflect on Palin’s itinerary. The color images (while only decent in quality) sufficiently align with and nicely enhance the text: there is very little left of the journal that is in need of depiction, and that which isn’t, is adequately described by Palin — particularly his depictions of the North Koreans he met. Thus there is plenty of room left for our imagination. Michael Palin’s Introduction helps set up the difficulty of the trip, as does series director Neil Ferguson’s “Recce” (a sort of afterword).

This journal is a fine companion if you’ve seen the documentary. And nearly as fine too, if the book is your only window into Michael Palin’s trip.

A very enjoyable read that will likely leave Westerners with a more, human, sympathetic and demystified view of this little-understood nation. Is it just a matter of time before NK opens up? It’s still not at all clear, as Palin’s journal sums up!

Highly recommended for your travelogue library or Python bookshelf.
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DCM
5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Palin is Travelling Again!
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2019
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For fans of the Around the World in 80 Days and all the subsequent Palin journeys, Michael is back and as good as ever. I bought both the audio, hardback, and kindle and switched between them all. I wish the journey had been longer so there would have been more of this excellent journal. Loved the pictures too.
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Wayne A. Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars Thin and Flat
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2021
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I was disappointed in North Korea Journal, by Michael Palin.

I was NOT expecting something completely different, so the fact that this is a non-humor book by a Python was expected. The journal is that - Palin's travel notes of every day he was in North Korea shooting film for one of his documentaries. It's sequential, brief and linear with not much else.

It's well written, but there is just not much there. Of interest is that he does see some flashes of how the elite (those not struggling in the countryside or in concentration camps) live. They have restaurants (a few), hotels (few, with one giant white-elephant that remains unfinished and a monument to everything wrong with communist North Korea), coffee shops (he found one) and public spaces with lot of Kim statues and slogans. His handlers, with him every moment, illustrate how tightly controlled lives are in this despotic piece of real estate. The obeisance of his handlers and every one he meets to the leaders and the leader's dictates on life is well illustrated and omnipresent.

While Palin gently condemns (very gently) the regime and the lack of freedom in North Korea, I couldn't help wonder how odd and blind this book would be viewed if it had been written of a film maker's 1938 trip to Germany accompanied by Nazi handlers. Hard to read a book like this that - while not exactly glossing over the terrors of the regime - certainly does nothing to remind the reader of the hundreds of thousands of Koreans who languish and die in concentration camps as you read this or the murderous decades of a regime that is built on terror, despotism and death.

Interesting for what it is, but it certainly earned its three stars.
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Stephen W Osborne
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic armchair travel!
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2020
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I can honestly say that Michael Palin's travel books and TV shows have changed my world view. He's perfect for the job: he's funny, but more than anything else he comes across as being kind. Palin tells you about the land and the sights, but what obviously really interests him are the people. He searches for the common ground, and North Korea was perhaps his greatest challenge. What I took from this journey was the the government of North Korea is one thing, and the people living there are another. There were several OMG moments, and many revelations. Loved the book...and Mr. Palin!
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John M. Reinking
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Travel Journal
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2022
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A brief look at a reclusive country told through the eyes of a fun travel writer. The two week journey is heavily scripted by the North Korean government and disappoints a bit. But the excellent pictures and limited interactions with locals makes it a satisfactory read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
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Mr. Foon
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a secretive place
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2022
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A great accounting of Michael’s trip to North Korea. The strange customs, things that they were prohibited from doing or seeing, it’s a great read.
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Walter-Jörg Langbein
5.0 out of 5 stars Execellent journal of a very unusual journey! - Ausgezeichnegtes Reisetagebuch
Reviewed in Germany on May 31, 2021
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Sir Michael Palin's latest bestseller is a journal, a diary of an unusual journey. Sir Michael Palin presents the diary of a most fascinating journey: via Beijing to North Korea and through the mysterious country itself. For many years I have dreamed of visiting what is possibly the most unusual country on our planet. I dared tentative attempts to plan a trip, but then shrank from putting it into practice. Exploring North Korea seemed too dangerous to me, my fear (of being arrested as a spy, for example) outweighed me, and I have not yet done it.

I am now infinitely grateful to Sir Michael Palin for his North Korea diary. The work is illustrated in color throughout. Palin's descriptions of his experiences are colored in the best sense of the word. He always writes respectfully about the people of North Korea, his humor is delicious and subtle.
I was enthusiastic about Palin's “Erebus”, and so am I about “North Korea Journal”. The book is available to me as an original English edition in bound form and as an ebook.

Sir Michael Palin is one of the few writers of our day who really masters the art of traveling and consciously perceiving every moment of such a journey. He doesn't just move from A to B as fast as possible, he really travels, he travels, he expands his consciousness with each trip and allows us readers to take part in his journeys by reading, which are always real expeditions into the unknown .

But be careful: reading Sir Michael Palin's books is addicting. You can't stop reading and long for the next work from the pen of Sir Michael Palin. I am very grateful to him for his books and I hope that he will present one or the other further opus! May Sir Michael Palin live long in good health and prosper!

Sir Michael Palins aktuellster Bestseller ist ein Journal, ein Tagebuch einer ungewöhnlichen Reise. Sir Michael Palin legt das Tagebuch einer höchst faszinierenden Reise vor: über Peking nach Nordkorea und durch das mysteriöse Land selbst. Seit vielen Jahren träumte ich selbst von einem Besuch des womöglich ungewöhnlichsten Landes auf unserem Planeten. Zaghafte Versuche der Planung einer Reise habe ich gewagt, schreckte aber dann doch vor der Umsetzung in die Tat zurück. Zu gefährlich schien mir eine Erkundung Nord Koreas, meine Angst (etwa vor einer Verhaftung als Spion) überwog, ich verzichtete bis heute.
Nun bin ich Sir Michael Palin unendlich für sein Nord-Korea-Tagebuch dankbar. Das Werk ist durchgehend farbig illustriert. Farbig im besten Sinne des Wortes sind Palins Schilderungen seiner Erfahrungen. Er schreibt stets respektvoll über die Menschen Nord Koreas, sein Humor ist köstlich und subtil.
Von Palins »Erebus« war ich begeistert, von »North Korea Journal« bin ich es auch. Mir liegt das Buch als englische Originalausgabe in gebundener Form und als Ebook vor.
Sir Michael Palin beherrscht als einer der wenigen Schriftsteller unserer Tage wirklich die Kunst zu Reisen und jeden Augenblick so einer Reise bewusst wahrzunehmen. Er bewegt sich nicht einfach so schnell wie möglich von A nach B, er reist wirklich, er bereist, er erweitert mit jeder Reise sein Bewusstsein und erlaubt es uns Leserinnen und Leser lesend an seinen Reisen, die immer wieder echte Expeditionen ins Unbekannte sind, teilzunehmen.
Doch Vorsicht: Die Lektüre von Sir Michael Palins Büchern macht süchtig. Man kann mit dem Lesen nicht aufhören und sehnt sich gleich nach dem nächsten Werk aus der Feder Sir Michael Palins. Ich bin ihm für seine Bücher sehr dankbar und hoffe, dass er noch das eine oder andere weitere Opus vorlegen wird!
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anthony muchall
5.0 out of 5 stars Unknown territory
Reviewed in France on March 7, 2021
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Well Michael Palin has done it again. An excellent insight into a part of the world rarely seen by western tourists. Michael's ability to get close to the people never fails to amaze me. Under very difficult circumstances it was wonderful that he was able to dance with the locals and also have discussions on sensitive subjects. Also the fact that he visits parts of the country other than the capital, Pyongyang makes interesting reading. Should be read in conjunction with the video.
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Doug H
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story
Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2019
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Michael Palin is a great story teller as evinced in all his books. The story of his travels through North Korea is quite brief, but it gives a 'feel' for the people, the government and the country. I can only wish that he had written more.
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Shyam Kodavarthi
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous as ever
Reviewed in India on February 13, 2020
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Palin's new book is fabulous as ever. I read it non-stop through the night.
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papapownall
5.0 out of 5 stars Stranger in a strange land
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2019
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It is fair to say that travel shows have come a long way since Judith Chalmers "remember to bring your own tea bags" programmes in the 1980's. Michael Palin was the first to introduce viewers to more exotic destinations through his trailblazing Equator and Pole to Pole series and, more recently, Simon Reeve has taken the baton to chronicle his travels to some even more extravagant destinations. Like the Timur Tambalane in the 14th century, TV producers now lament there is no more of the world to conquer. Except one place that is. The mysterious DPRK.

When I saw this book on Amazon I instinctively looked to see when the accompanying show would be on TV. I was even more amazed to learn that I had missed it. Apparently it was on Channel 5 in late 2018. That explains it then.

This was a relatvely short (15 day) trip and both the TV show (2 episodes) and the book are relatively short. That is not say there is nothing of interest, quite the opposite. The DPRK represents the last bastion of the world that has not been touched by capitalism and this makes for a spectucular and unusual experience that Micahel Palin describes expertly. This is a totalitarian state like no other. A small country that has been cut off from the outside world for over 70 years. As ever, it is the people that we meet along the way that make this a great story. Michael Palin was keen to understand their lives and naturally wanted to probe certain aspects of DPRK and, althoguh was pushed back a couple of times, there was more in common that we might initially have thought.

The photos in this book tell a lot of the story. Roads without cars and giant statues which are statements in themsleves to the power of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il and the prestige in which they are held by the people of DPRK. Michael Palin's accompanying words which are as witty as ever are in the form of diary entries from this short visit to this strange land. There is also an interesting afternote from the producer of the show who talks about the "reece" visit in advance of the filming to outline what was on / off limits. The filming was made shortly after the historic meeting between Kim Jong-un of North Korea, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, and President Trump making this even more poignant.
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