✰✰✰✰ In a
time before airplanes and luxury cruise ships, a solitary, sightless man named
James Holman traveled around the world from 1819 - 1832. As a child, Holman
dreamed of traveling, but his father had other plans for him. When joining the
clergy did not pan out, Holman joined the British Royal Navy. As Holman pursued
his naval career, the rigors of sea life caught up with him. He became
bedridden due to "exquisite pains" and was deemed “unserviceable.”
While Holman recuperated at a spa, his pain subsided. Unfortunately, he was
suddenly stricken with complete blindness. With few opportunities available to
the blind at the time, Holman joined the Naval Knights of Windsor. Hoping to
find a cure for his own blindness, he also became a student of literature and
medicine during that time. Eventually, Holman sought to relieve his pain by
visiting a more favorable climate...alone.
Due to the success of that journey, he was hooked
on solitary travel. With only a natural aptitude for languages, a curiosity for
other cultures, and limited funds, Holman became a solitary world traveler.
Known simply as the Blind Traveler, Holman survived being held captive in
Siberia, fought slave trade in Africa, climbed Mount
Vesuvius , and helped chart the Australian outback. He even
circumnavigated the globe, an impressive accomplishment for any individual, but
especially for one without sight. His adventures were legendary, and he was
quite famous during his time only to be forgotten over the years. Fortunately,
by picking up this book, the reader can once again travel along with Lt. James
Holman as he explores uncharted lands and discovers native cultures.
The Bottom Line: Lt. James Holman was an
extraordinary man who was ahead of his time. When repeatedly faced with
insurmountable challenges, he continually adapted by reinventing himself.
Holman was a man who tested the limits of his disability instead of wallowing
in pity. During his lifetime, he
was a sailor, knight, student, physician, tourist, and author, but always a
traveler. Additionally, Holman easily adopted the latest technology and
developed echolocation on his own.
A Sense of the World is an enjoyable and entertaining
biography. It is a great example of nonfiction that reads like fiction. In
fact, it’s almost as if the author had the uncanny ability to walk in Holman’s
shoes. Additionally, Roberts explains the social expectations of the
time in a language that is reminiscent of the era. Roberts also includes many
short biographies and anecdotes of the fascinating people Holman met during his
travels. The paperback edition I read included maps of Holman’s travels
and an interview with the author. The only thing missing was an index.
Highly recommended for fans of
biographies, travelers, and armchair travelers. This epic tale of one blind
man’s quest to “see” the world will transport you to another time and leave you
amazed. By simply living his life, Holman became an inspiration to others.
Holman, also, remains somewhat of a mystery as his memoir was never published.
Book Club Notes: This inspirational biography of
Lt. James Holman provided ample material for an engaging discussion. This book
is full of details and is written in a style that prompts discussion. Holman
lived during a great era of exploration and invention. Furthermore, he lived
his life fully despite his disability. Through reading about Holman’s travels
and challenges, the group was able to discuss his examples of life lessons. We
were also eager to discuss the mystery of what caused Holman’s blindness and
what happened to his unpublished memoir. On a rating scale from 1 – 5, the
group gave it an average of 3.25 because some members felt that the first 100
pages were a little too detailed and dry.
Book clubs interested in discussing this
book can find discussion questions at LitLovers.
Finally, book clubs can supplement the discussion by taking a look at A
Voyage Round the World, Volume 1 by
James Holman which is available through Project Gutenberg.
Details: A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man
Became History’s Greatest Traveler by Jason Roberts. Paperback edition published
by Harper Perennial in 2007. 400 p. ISBN: 978-0-00-7161065
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