Give Me the World

by Leila Hadley

At the age of twenty-five, Leila Hadley, bored with her New York PR job, buys two tickets aboard a cargo ship headed for Hong one for herself, and one for her six-year-old son Kippy. This decision sets her life on an entirely new course. After Manila, Hong Kong and Bangkok, their travels take an unexpected she meets four young men sailing their boat around the world, and convinces them to let her and Kippy join them.
Filled with sensual descriptions of the places she visits, lively accounts of the people and traditions, and intriguing characters, it is not only the luminous vitality of her prose that make this travelogue such a pleasure to read, but the courage of her decision to toss expectations to the wind and embrace all the adventures the world has to offer-an inspiration to the adventurer that lurks within us all.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, Asia, Adventure, History, Book Club

354 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Leila Hadley (c. 1925–2009) was an American travel writer and New York Upper East Side socialite, whose career as an author began after taking a trip around the world at twenty-six. Her books include Give Me the World (1958) and A Journey With Elsa Cloud(1997).

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I can't give this book 4.5 stars, I rounded it up to five. This is the travelogue of Leila Hadley, a 25-year-old who embarks on a journey around the world via plane, train, and (mostly) sailing vessel, with her small son in tow. She does this in the 1950s, when such an action raises eyebrows. But throughout the book it's clear Hadley does not mind what people think of her. She's spunky, but she has limits.

The appeal of this book, for me, lies not with Hadley as an individual but with her capability as a writer. She is brilliant. Her descriptions of India, of the Middle East, of Greece, and of sailing for months on a schooner with four scruffy Americans -- all are astonishing in their clarity and beauty. More than almost any other author I've read, Hadley painted complete pictures in my mind. I feel like I went along for the ride and emerged, at the other end of her book, with my own vivid memories of the streets of Bombay and the ruins at Rhodes. Travelers or not, everyone should taste Hadley's prose: it's like eating a slice of literary cheesecake.

[Danielle Lelio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would’ve liked it more had Leila not been insufferable at every turn.

[Suzanne Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivid imagery but sometimes long-winded.

[hanja mcG · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE ONLY reason im not giving this a 5 is bc i think it’s kinda messed up how she brought her son along all except for a couple island countries like, commit or don’t!

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would really rate this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this kind of magical journey most only dream of, but some of it waxed on a bit too much. Many of the descriptions were too overwhelming in the details, so that I had to start skimming, as I feared I would never finish this book. I also wished there had been a map(s) to refer to. I mostly read this on the bus, so it was not convenient to stop and look at a map on the internet or in an atlas. Hadley really did it all and I admire her attitude and courage to explore the world and life aboard a sailing schooner.

[Nanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best and most evocative writing I've ever read. Beautiful and inspiring.

[eve]

i loved this book. i wasn't sure what to think, because of leila hadley's odd history, but i keep thinking about this book and her since i've read it. i read her memoir, a journey with elsa cloud, before i read this, and it is very strange to read both. it makes me really wonder about the woman herself. why did she find it necessary to disguise the names of the people in the later book, when she didn't in this one? what was her relationship with her children really like? was she the stuck-up debutante, or a young woman curious and adventurous, as she seems in this book?

give me the world is a true travel book in that the characters don't know where they're going or even exactly why they're doing what they're doing, except that they're just moving on. it is not the kind of thing you'd expect to find taking place in the fifties. that makes it very valuable to those of us that didn't live through that time - there was way more interesting going on then than we tend to realise. the contrast between leila's sheltered old-fashioned life and her method of traveling, a lone woman on a ship with 4 young men, is almost startling.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing travel memoir by woman who left her HR job in NYC and took her six-year-old son around the world for a year and a half in 1951-2! She travels all through the far and near east when the world was much less homogenous. She is fearless, a beautiful writer who tells you about the unpleasant and the rapturous both. And then there's her whole romance with the sailing vessel, the California, and how she travels with four American sailors and her son. And, well, there's more, but I'm often accused of giving too much away. Leila Hadley is a courageous, adventurous woman. If she can do it, then we have no excuses. Title is from a poem by W. B. Yeats.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing story. I had to keep reminding myself that what the author was describing took place in 1951-52. At age 25, she leaves her job in New York City and sails on a cargo ship to Hong Kong with her six-year-old son. From there she travels to Manila, Hong Kong and Bangkok. She then convince four young men sailing on the California to allow her and her son to join them. Her descriptions of their journey are impressive. I especially enjoyed this version because it contained an afterward by the author which gives updated information on what happened to her and her sailing companions after the trip was completed.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forget how I stumbled across this book, but it's become one of my favorites. It's hard to imagine this took place in the 1950s - she was only 25 and took her 6 yr old son with her - and sailed around the world with a group of men! Crazy! Her writing is captivating but the book drag at times (why I didn't give it 5 stars).

[Cynthia Singiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 70-100 pages are a little slow but once she joins the schooner, the California, it gets much more interesting. I read up on the author Leila Hadley after reading it and turns out she is not a ver admirable woman. But she writes a very nice travel journal about interesting parts of the world.

[Bill Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific travel memoir.
Hadley's descriptive language, applied to the broad array of cultures visited in her post-War, pre-"One World" trip, with her gaining experience (both culturally and as a "crew member" on a schooner) the whole time, amounts to an education for the reader.
I really enjoyed it.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm savoring this book slowly because it is so rich and full
of detail. The locations are mindblowing. She's 25 and takes off to travel for what seems like a year with her young son. Having him along doesn't stop her from having all sorts of adventures. Very well written.

[Redgeorgiadawg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Especially love the afterword. She is one author that I would love to have dinner with! Travelogue can be overly descriptive in parts but her prose is impeccable. I wish I had her tenacious spirit!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite book of all time. I adore Leila's writing style... and her gumption! It's a beautifully told story of a truly incredible trip. A must read for anyone who loves great travel writing.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most inspiring, empowering books I've ever read.

[Jennifer Locum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book mainly because she traveled to several places that I have been. She did a great job describing the experiences.

[Oyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow going.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Would take this adventure with my 6yo in a heartbeat - if it were the 1950s. beautiful story and beautiful descriptions of the countries she visits.

[Lisa of Hopewell]

Elliott Bay Book Company Staff Pick (Leah)

[Ashlie Corbin-slunaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful
Read! I loved this book!