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North Korea Journal

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North Korea Journal

By: Michael Palin
Narrated by: Michael Palin
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE BOOK BEHIND THE HIT CHANNEL 5 DOCUMENTARY

A glimpse of life inside the world’s most secretive country, as told by Britain’s best-loved travel writer.

In May 2018, former Monty Python stalwart and intrepid globetrotter Michael Palin spent two weeks in the notoriously secretive Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, a cut-off land without internet or phone signal, where the countryside has barely moved beyond a centuries-old peasant economy but where the cities have gleaming skyscrapers and luxurious underground train stations. His resulting documentary for Channel 5 was widely acclaimed.

Now he shares his day-by-day diary of his visit, in which he describes not only what he saw – and his fleeting views of what the authorities didn’t want him to see – but recounts the conversations he had with the country’s inhabitants, talks candidly about his encounters with officialdom, and records his musings about a land wholly unlike any other he has ever visited – one that inspires fascination and fear in equal measure.

Written with Palin’s trademark warmth and wit, and illustrated with beautiful colour photographs throughout, the journal offers a rare insight into the North Korea behind the headlines.

©2019 Michael Palin (P)2019 Penguin Audio Asia Cultural & Regional Thought-Provoking Imperial Japan

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All stars
Most relevant
Micheal Palin for me is the David Attenborough of the travel world. I love his voice and personality and he makes travel accessible for all, from the comfort of your own home.
I really loved the insights into the mysterious North Korea and it has given me a new found fascination for the place. I’ve already downloaded an autobiography of someone who escaped from there and started to find out more about the history of it.
I throughly recommend this book and find the other reviews about it being too short strange. Too short for what? It is what it is.

Micheal Palin is the David Attenborough of the Travel World

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While interesting, this account, as you might expect, failed to reveal any real insight into the real daily lives and goings on of the North Korean people. I still enjoyed it, Michael Palin has a good manner in which he delivers the story and his observations along the way were nice. But I just hoped for more. 4/5

Good but lacking

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Lovely narration by that warm familiar voice. The story doesn't tell us much that wasn't well known, but the emphasis on common humanity between peoples cannot be faulted.

Pleasant easy listening

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always enjoyed Michael's shows giving us a look into far off places and of course his way if delivering it to us

enjoyed having a glimpse in

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Another great journal from MP, shedding light on one of the most secretive of countries.

Enlightening story

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