Synopses & Reviews
He was known simply as the Blind Traveler. A solitary, sightless adventurer, James Holman (1786-1857) fought the slave trade in Africa, survived a frozen captivity in Siberia, hunted rogue elephants in Ceylon, helped chart the Australian outback—and, astonishingly, circumnavigated the globe, becoming one of the greatest wonders of the world he so sagaciously explored. A Sense of the World is a spellbinding and moving rediscovery of one of history's most epic lives—a story to awaken our own senses of awe and wonder.
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“Holmans remarkable life story, coupled with Roberts extraordinary gifts as a storyteller, make this a fascinating read.” Contra Costa Times
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“Vibrant prose.” Washington Post
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“Robertss book is an excellent read.… An author with an enviable ability to tell the tale. Jonathan Mirsky, The Spectator (A Book of the Year)
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“Paints a convincing and well-researched picture of Holmans early life…Holmans first trip, to Russia, is particularly well-drawn.” The Economist
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“Gives us a man who embraced wanderlust at a time when the continents and oceans were much, much bigger.” New York Times
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“Roberts wisely tells this extraordinary story without embellishment. The tale will fill you with wonder. In a word: remarkable.” Melbourne Herald Sun
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“Enthralling. A masterpiece of biography, travel writing and medical journalism.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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“(A) meticulous recreation of Holmans world.” Miami Herald
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“A well-written popular history that will appeal to an audience interested in stories of individuals triumphing over physical difficulties.” Library Journal
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“Jason Roberts should be proud of his achievement in this sensitive and imaginative book.” Times Literary Supplement (London)
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“A tribute to an inspiring figure who, despite his blindness, was a far-sighted traveller.” Bath Chronicle (UK)
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“Roberts is a beautifully assured writer.” Seattle Times
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“An admirable work, testament to the determination, resourcefulness, and skill of not only its subject, but also its author.” Boston Globe
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“This warm-hearted and sensitive account should give Holman his due: a place in the pantheon of great travelers.” The Guardian
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“Painstakingly researched. Worth reading.” Irish Times
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“(a) talented and committed writer.” Raleigh News & Observer
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“Holmans life as told in this biography reads like a dare to get out of the house and live!” NPR's Holiday Book Roundup
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“Enthralling...inspiring A moving, mesmerizing biography.” Time magazine
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“Vibrant...evok(es) with grace and wit the tale of this man once lionized as “The Blind Traveler.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“Fascinating...rich...I dont expect to read a better [book] soon.” Weekend Australian
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“A remarkable job of resurrecting Holman from obscurity, painting a portrait of a complex and compelling persona.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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“Roberts has achieved much. His research is meticulous and…a person lost to history is now rediscovered.” Denver Rocky Mountain News
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“This excellent biography owes much to the wonderful balance the author achieves between detail and evocative description.” ABC Magazine (UK)
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“An imaginative journey (told with) enviable tact and skill.” Daily Telegraph (London)
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“Through meticulous research…with intrigue and humor, Roberts brings Holman fully to life.” Daily News
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“Extraordinary…beautifully produced…Roberts made his hero one for the history books.” Buffalo News
Synopsis
He was known simply as the Blind Traveler. A solitary, sightless adventurer, James Holman (1786-1857) fought the slave trade in Africa, survived a frozen captivity in Siberia, hunted rogue elephants in Ceylon, helped chart the Australian outback— and, astonishingly, circumnavigated the globe, becoming one of the greatest wonders of the world he so sagaciously explored. A Sense of the World is a spellbinding and moving rediscovery of one of history's most epic lives— a story to awaken our own senses of awe and wonder.
About the Author
Jason Roberts is the inaugural winner of the Van Zorn Prize for emerging writers (sponsored by Michael Chabon) and a contributor to the Village Voice, McSweeney's, The Believer, and other publications. He lives in Northern California.