Round About the Earth: Circumnavigation from Magellan to Orbit

Highly acclaimed, this first full history of around-the-world travel by Joyce E. Chaplin brilliantly tells the story of circumnavigation. A witty, erudite, and colorful account of the outrageous ambitions that have inspired men and women to circle the entire planet.

In this first full history of around-the-world travel, Joyce E. Chaplin brilliantly tells the story of circumnavigation. For almost five hundred years, human beings have been finding ways to circle the Earth—by sail, steam, or liquid fuel; by cycling, driving, flying, or going into orbit; even by using their own bodily power. Round About the Earth is a witty, erudite, and colorful account of the outrageous ambitions that have inspired men and women to encircle the planet.