James Holman is a man nearly lost to history. But for the work of author Jason Roberts, the modern world would never know he was one of the greatest travelers in history, who accomplished his feat after losing his sight in his early 20's.

A son of Exeter, England, and without pedigree to speak of, Holman cunningly wrested a destiny for himself in the British Navy at the close of the 18th century, just before the age of steam. A decade into his naval career, having served off the coast of the Americas, his sight failed after an unknown illness. Holman sought and found fraternity with a group of military veterans known as the Knights of Windsor, who were given lifetime room and board at Windsor Castle in exchange for ceremonial duties for the Crown and a life of quiet (read: boring) worship. Holman would not suffer this fate.

Refusing to be defined by his blindness, Holman discovered an appetite for travel while journeying to the south of France to convalesce from his illness. He embraced his wanderlust with gusto while learning to navigate the world using his other senses. He made fast friends wherever he wandered, and found delight in the company of an endless variety of fellow travelers and local characters, often astonishing them with his capacity to move about as if he were fully-sighted.

The book itself is a slow burn, and took me a few cracks to get through, not because the subject was not interesting, but because I found it somewhat difficult to connect Holman's travels to the broader context of what was happening in the world around him. Roberts makes up for it in the last 50 pages by offering some interpretation of Holman's place in the annals of pre-industrial globetrotting. I wish he had done this throughout the book. It would have made Holman's exploits more relatable sooner, and kept my attention better. Notwithstanding, Roberts' interpretation of Holman's story was rewarding enough.

Holman was a good soul. Learning about his influence for good on others, his indomitable spirit, his gratitude for life, his intrepid wanderlust, and his ability to connect with all walks of life was enjoyable. I found his reputation for kindness and curiosity about others most inspiring.

This book is for those who love reading about explorers, personal courage, intrepid souls, and the history of discovery. I found it in a book shop in Orange, California during the summer of 2019. I'm glad I did.

A few favorite quotes and passages:

The beauties of the beautiful
Are veiled before the blind
Not so the graces and the bloom
That blossom in the mind.
The beauties of the finest form
Are sentenced to decay;
Not so the beauties of the mind,
They never fade away.
-James Holman

"Nowhere was Holman greeted with more effusive attention than in the former New Holland, now loosely known as the "australian" colonies of the crown. In Hobart Town, capital of Van Diemen's Land (present-day Tasmania), he was feted, followed, and even imitated..." ( ( )

An extraordinary story about a blind man who circumnavigated the globe in the early half of the nineteenth century, this book argues against the notion that blindness is a disability. James Holman, known as the Blind Traveler, traveled alone to Siberia, and then eventually around the world on a series of ships, traversing parts of South America, Australia and Africa on horseback. He made this possible, in large part, by being an affable, outgoing individual of tremendous courage. The author, who used only what he could find in the written record, eschewing any made-up dialogue, has given us a full portrait of the man, his blindness and adaptation to it, and the social history of the period. An utterly involving read and one I highly recommend. ( )

An interesting man who went from being a naval lieutenant who suffered from joint pain then became blind and traveled the world alone. Fascinating! And this all takes place from 1787-1857. James Holman was an apothecary/shop owner's son who was destined to follow in his father's footsteps when family fortunes changed. He goes to the Navy at 12 and expects to be there for the rest of his life but his health turns bad and he must retire on half-salary. He becomes a Naval Knight of Windsor to retain his half-salary. He absents himself a lot from his duties as he travels the world. What is does and how he learns his way around with short funds and limited language skills is remarkable.

I loved that the history of the time is explained and that what is happening in the countries he explores is also given. That he often is on naval vessels and helps is remarkable. I also enjoyed seeing the societal downsides of his times. He is a remarkable man. I am glad the bookseller recommended it as I was checking out. Excellent read! ( )

Fourth-born Britain James Holman was destined for the clergy. Instead, he got bit by the travel bug. Like any decent explorer, James Holman bucked authority. After inexplicably going blind at the age of 25 he refused to stand still. When doctors wanted him to languish in the warmer climates of the Mediterranean for his health, Holman instead ignored their advice and set out for France by himself. Naturally Holman didn't stop there. He joined the Navy to continue his travels through far reaching places such as Siberia and Africa.
Despite Holman's remarkable ability to perceive the world as though sighted he was mostly viewed as a novelty and when he passed away his fifteen minutes of fame were quickly up. Roberts decided to resurrect Holman's biography because he simply couldn't believe the world had forgotten about this remarkable, yet blind, traveler. He best describes Holman as such, "Alone, sightless, with no prior command of native languages and with only a wisp of fund, he had forged a path equivalent to wandering to the moon" (p 320). Pretty remarkable. ( )

Wonderful book w/ absolutely loads of relevant information regarding the time period and the Blind Traveler's methodology in his travels. I like to think I've done a lot of non-motorized traveling as well....I pale in comparison. ( )