Around the World in 79 Days [Paperback]

The canny authors of this memoir about a real-life race to sail around the world exploit to the fullest its rather tenuous connection with Jules Verne's classic adventure novel. In January 1993, a crew of four Frenchmen and one American-author Lewis, a professional American sailboat racer-set out to circumnavigate the globe in the Commodore Explorer, a multihull catamaran, and to best the fictional 19th-century 80-day record of Phileas Fogg and Passepartout. Of course Fogg et al. did not travel solely by water, so the routes were not analogous. Nor did they have the benefit of telexed weather reports, faxes or a press agent hovering nearby in a helicopter to pick up their film. However, the modern-day authors' decision to insert literally Verne's classic story into this narrative via copious (copyright-free) excerpts occupying almost half the book does pay off, infusing the breezy writing with a feeling of genuine adventure it otherwise lacks. Also enlivening Lewis's memoir are observations on a variety of related topics, ranging from famous explorers to a detailed explanation of longitude and latitude. Lewis's real-life experiences-his difficulties in communicating with the French-speaking crew, loss of sleep, rough seas and primitive facilities-are far less exciting than the enthralling drama of his fictional counterpart. But the combination of both stories is a winning one. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Lewis, with help from coauthor Levitt, narrates a surprisingly literate and exuberant adventure. He and four Frenchmen want to best the record set by the fictional Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. Unlike Fogg, though, Lewis and his companions travel strictly by water, guiding a catamaran from France to around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, then south of Australia, under Cape Horn, and north to return to France. The real-life record for such a journey is 109 days, but Lewis and company are undaunted by the challenge. They fight storms and frustration to carve out a spot in the record book. A wealth of information about the sea, ships, and explorers fleshes out the story. Especially compelling for those who, like Lewis, see everyday life as too safe and restricted. Brian McCombie

A rip-roaring, two-fisted account of Lewis's bid to best the 80 days it took Phileas Fogg to circle the globe. Whereas Verne's character took all modes of transportation available, Lewis--a trophy-laden, world-class sailor, as he often reminds readers--confined himself to a sleek, monstrous (though fragile), wind-driven catamaran: cold and leaky, perhaps, but fast. (In typical hairy-chested fashion, Lewis notes that these multihulls are often referred to as ``biker boats for speed freaks.'') A good amount of text is given to the parallels in the journeys of Fogg and Lewis, to Lewis's life history, and to the seemingly endless number of sailing firsts on record. But the story turns on the sheer derring-do Lewis brings to his, and his four French shipmates', quest: how they handled 50-foot seas, survived the obligatory hurricane off Cape Horn, and weathered the crises of confidence that attend such moments. (Just as daunting, if less romantic, is their struggle with skin rot, frayed tempers, and exhaustion.) Surprisingly appealing are the scholarly digressions into nautical time and distance, latitude, and such minutiae as why navigators ought never sit athwart ship; these facts give a balance to all the manly deeds. But risk-taking is what this story is about, and its virtues are extolled time and again by Lewis and coauthor Levitt (a historian of the America's Cup), with praise heaped on the French for their pursuit of extreme sports, frequent recourse to Shakespeare's ``bear affliction till it do cry out itself,'' and the glories obtained by living a life on ``the edge.'' Then again, Lewis and his cohorts beat Fogg to the finish (they also trounced the actual record of 109 days), so maybe a little bombast is the guy's due. (maps) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

The invigorating story of a real-life race to  sail around the world--and break the fictitious  record set in Jules Verne's 1873 novel--in seventy-nine  days.



In Jules Verne's historic  novel Around the World in Eighty Days, Phileas Fogg  and Jean Passepartout race at break-neck speed to  circle the globe in eighty days. Around  The World In Seventy-Nine Days is the  true story of Cam Lewis, who set out to better the  impossible pace set by Verne's illustrious  characters. Along with Bruno Peyron, one of France's most  famous sailors, and a small crew of Frenchmen  aboard the Commodore Explorer, Lewis set  sail.



A world champion sailor, Lewis's spirits and  patience were often tested by communication  difficulties with the French-speaking crew, midnight  steering shifts, fatigue, frustration, and fifty-foot  waves that threatened to smash the boat. Fearing  for his life, Lewis grappled with the idea that he  might never again see his fiance--or the unborn  child that she was carrying. This fascinating  chronicle of a world-class journey illuminates not only  the struggle to maintain endurance and faith, but  the will to achieve greatness no matter what the  odds.

The invigorating story of a real-life race to sail around the world--and break the fictitious record set in Jules Verne's 1873 novel--in seventy-nine days.

In Jules Verne's historic novel Around the World in Eighty Days, Phileas Fogg and Jean Passepartout race at break-neck speed to circle the globe in eighty days. Around The World In Seventy-Nine Days is the true story of Cam Lewis, who set out to better the impossible pace set by Verne's illustrious characters. Along with Bruno Peyron, one of France's most famous sailors, and a small crew of Frenchmen aboard the Commodore Explorer, Lewis set sail.

A world champion sailor, Lewis's spirits and patience were often tested by communication difficulties with the French-speaking crew, midnight steering shifts, fatigue, frustration, and fifty-foot waves that threatened to smash the boat. Fearing for his life, Lewis grappled with the idea that he might never again see his fiance--or the unborn child that she was carrying. This fascinating chronicle of a world-class journey illuminates not only the struggle to maintain endurance and faith, but the will to achieve greatness no matter what the odds.