Tramp Royale
Encyclopedia
Tramp Royale is a nonfiction travelogue by science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein
, describing how he and his wife, Ginny, went around the world by ship and plane between 1953–1954. It was not published until 1992, and subsequently went out of print.
Much of the book is devoted to social and political commentary and observation, including two lengthy but half-hearted defenses of the McCarthy hearings
, which the Heinleins were interrogated about repeatedly in the countries they visited. Although Heinlein has been adopted as somewhat of a posterboy by the libertarian
movement, the political commentary reveals that Heinlein was far from being a doctrinaire adherent of any particular political philosophy. For example, he compares the social welfare state of New Zealand
unfavorably to that of Uruguay
, and says he cannot explain why the one was so much more successful than the other.
Heinlein devoted an entire chapter to his (almost) visit to Tristan da Cunha
, arguably the most remote human settlement on earth. He described the islands as being so far from the rest of human civilization that the next closest human settlement, St. Helena, "[is] itself so remote that it was picked as a safe prison for Napoleon Bonaparte after he crushed his way out of Elba
." Tristan da Cunha is 2430 km (1,510 mi) from St. Helena.
This trip, along with Heinlein's experiences as a naval officer, appears to have provided a great deal of the background material for some of Heinlein's science fiction novels, such as passenger liners used in Podkayne of Mars
(in space) and in Job: A Comedy of Justice
(on the oceans). Given Heinlein's carefully cultivated public persona as a curmudgeon, it is amusing that much of the humor in the book consists of riffs on the idea that Ginny is the hothead, while Robert is the easygoing one, e.g., in a shipboard incident at the captain's table, Robert continues eating his dessert after being doused in salad during a food fight
started by Ginny.
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
, describing how he and his wife, Ginny, went around the world by ship and plane between 1953–1954. It was not published until 1992, and subsequently went out of print.
Much of the book is devoted to social and political commentary and observation, including two lengthy but half-hearted defenses of the McCarthy hearings
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
, which the Heinleins were interrogated about repeatedly in the countries they visited. Although Heinlein has been adopted as somewhat of a posterboy by the libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
movement, the political commentary reveals that Heinlein was far from being a doctrinaire adherent of any particular political philosophy. For example, he compares the social welfare state of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
unfavorably to that of Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, and says he cannot explain why the one was so much more successful than the other.
Heinlein devoted an entire chapter to his (almost) visit to Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha is a remote volcanic group of islands in the south Atlantic Ocean and the main island of that group. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying from the nearest land, South Africa, and from South America...
, arguably the most remote human settlement on earth. He described the islands as being so far from the rest of human civilization that the next closest human settlement, St. Helena, "[is] itself so remote that it was picked as a safe prison for Napoleon Bonaparte after he crushed his way out of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
." Tristan da Cunha is 2430 km (1,510 mi) from St. Helena.
This trip, along with Heinlein's experiences as a naval officer, appears to have provided a great deal of the background material for some of Heinlein's science fiction novels, such as passenger liners used in Podkayne of Mars
Podkayne of Mars
Podkayne of Mars is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, originally serialised in Worlds of If , and published in hardcover in 1963...
(in space) and in Job: A Comedy of Justice
Job: A Comedy of Justice
Job: A Comedy of Justice is a novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1984. The title is a reference to the biblical Book of Job and James Branch Cabell's book Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice...
(on the oceans). Given Heinlein's carefully cultivated public persona as a curmudgeon, it is amusing that much of the humor in the book consists of riffs on the idea that Ginny is the hothead, while Robert is the easygoing one, e.g., in a shipboard incident at the captain's table, Robert continues eating his dessert after being doused in salad during a food fight
Food fight
A food fight is a form of chaotic collective behavior, in which food is thrown at others in the manner of projectiles. These projectiles are not made to harm or damage others, but to simply ignite a fight filled with spontaneous food throwing. Food fights may be impromptu examples of rebellion or...
started by Ginny.