Around the world in 42 days

Feeling hemmed in lately? Maybe you want to pick up a copy of the recently re-released classic by Frenchman Xavier de Maistre, "Journey Round My Room." It tells of the author's imaginary journeys during his house arrest for 42 days as a punishment for dueling while serving as an officer in the Piedmontese army.

Confined to his Turin quarters for six weeks, De Maistre (1763-1852) counts the 36 paces of the room's border and then starts exploring the items within it and examining their significance upon his life. He writes about lessons he's learned from his servant and his dog, frequent visitors. At times, he uses his armchair as a proto-Segway, tipping it backward, forward and sideways to help spur his imagination. Taking armchair travel to a new level, he comments upon the pictures on his walls, the view outside and just about anything else that comes to mind. And a lot comes to his mind. The book features echoes of Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy," acccording to the publisher, Arion Press.

The book's run is limited to 300 numbered copies, with photographs of models of the room taken with a cellphone camera by architect Ross Anderson. An additional 30 copies come in a special boxed set, designed by Anderson, with the box evoking the apartment and portholes to peek inside representing the windows. Welcome to the examined life. Orli Low