Journey of a Lifetime

by Alan Whicker

The iconic broadcasting legend dusts down his suitcase for a final journey around the globe, revisiting locations of significance to his life and career. "You might say I'm set in my airways. I'm one of those lucky people whose professional and private lives blend exactly."
Alan Whicker, 2007 Published to coincide with a major BBC TV series of the same name, Alan Whicker's Journey of Lifetime is a glorious celebration of 50 years in front of the camera. For as long as most can remember, Whicker has roamed far and wide in search of the eccentric, the ludicrous and the socially-revealing aspects of everyday life as lived by some of the more colourful of the world's inhabitants. Since the late 1950s, when the long-running Whicker's World documentary was first screened, he has probed and dissected the often secretive and unobserved worlds of the rich and famous, rooting out the most implausible and sometimes ridiculous characters after gaining admittance to the places where they conduct their leisure hours. The great man's legacy contains a number of genuine TV firsts. As well as landmark interviews with figures as diverse as Papa Doc, Paul Getty and The Sultan of Brunei, he was a pioneer, covering subjects like plastic surgery, gay weddings, polygamy, swinging and following gun-toting cops, fly-on-the-wall style, for British screens long before anyone else. This wonderful new book is the end product of a very personal journey. Whicker retraces his steps, catching up with some past interviewees and reflecting on how the world has changed - for good and bad - over the passing of time. Journey of a Lifetime is lyrical, uplifting and peppered with our favourite globetrotter's brand of subtle satire.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2009

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable summaries selected from the famous Whicker's World TV archive, entertaining and honest assessments throughout. Whicker was a natural relaxed communicator. As a young man I thought he had the best job in the world, travelling extensively and meeting interesting if not unusual people and places, the book makes you feel like you are enjoying the trip alongside the master.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fascinating, fast and anecdote- filled read. I appreciated the good observations of the author and most especially that he does not have to resort to vulgarity and bad language to get his points and stories across.

[Ashlyn L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated now in all senses but still some interesting observations.

[Kate Millin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the audioboo version and found the stories fascinating, if not a little sad in places. It makes me want to travel even more, although the places would be very different now to how they were when Whicker visited them. He shows a lot of compassion for his subjects, and seems to have been careful to help them to present them in as good a way as possible, which is probably why he became a friend of quite. Few of them.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst often interesting and always entertaining, I fiund some chapters to be rather slow going. Whicker documents a previous generation of celebrities and notaries, some if whom I would have found more interesting had I known who they were. I'd give 3.5/5, a reasonable read, but I did prefer Whicker's war.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and fun. Enjoyable.

[Edith Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish. Found it hard to continue reading.