Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure

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One hundred years after Ernest Hemingway's birth, Michael Palin embarks on a journey to explore the man behind the legend—a hard-drinking womanizer who adored cats and shooting, yet wrote beautifully and left a lasting mark on the twentieth century. Inspired by his research for his bestselling novel, Palin seeks to immerse himself in Hemingway's world. His travels weave together the past and present, revealing startling connections as he moves from Chicago to Michigan's forests and lakes, visits First World War battlefields in Italy, and experiences the vibrant cultures of Paris and Spain. In Spain, he learns about bullfighting and participates in the lively running of the bulls during the feria in Pamplona. He also visits Venice during Carnival and experiences the unique Fallas festival in Valencia, characterized by burning effigies and loud fireworks. Hemingway's adventurous spirit leads Palin to Key West, Florida, where the Hemingway legacy thrives, and to the Gulf Stream for fishing, on safari in Africa, and to Montana and Wyoming, where Hemingway sought refuge from fame. Basil Pao's evocative photographs enhance the narrative, capturing the essence of each location. This exploration is rich with wit and humor, offering insight into the extraordinary mind and restless journeys of one of the twentieth century's most colorful figures.