PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: The memoirs by Fridtjof Nansen tell about the epoch-making attempt to reach the North Pole, which ended in the farthest northern journey in the history of his time. Fridtjof Nansen had an extraordinary idea of how to get to the North Pole by ship. After discovering that the remains of the boat, wrecked near Russian Siberia, were found in the Northern Atlantic, he presumed that there should be some drift through the North Pole. So, he developed a specifically customized ship that was frozen into an ice cube and crossed the Polar waters in this shape. The vessel did freeze successfully. Yet, the journey was too long, and Nansen left the ship to reach the Pole on skis. He and his companion Hjalmar Johansen left for the pole but didn't manage to get it. However, they were the first people to achieve the farthest north latitude of 86°13.6′N. The story tells about this challenging journey through snow and waters makes a unique record of one of the most incredible northern expeditions.

Fridtjof Nansen's 'Farthest North (The Complete Two-Volume Edition)' is a gripping account of his 1893 Arctic expedition. Written in a detailed and vivid literary style, the book captures the harsh conditions and challenges faced by the crew as they strive to reach the North Pole. Nansen's scientific observations and personal reflections provide insight into the mindset of explorers during the golden age of polar exploration. This narrative work stands out for its combination of firsthand adventure and scientific rigor, making it a valuable historical document. Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian explorer, scientist, and diplomat, draws on his own experiences leading the expedition to craft a compelling and informative narrative. His background in zoology and oceanography lends credibility to the scientific aspects of the book. Nansen's dedication to exploration and his innovative approach to polar travel are evident throughout the text, making him a respected figure in the field of Arctic exploration. For readers interested in the history of polar exploration, 'Farthest North' is a must-read. Nansen's detailed account offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of Arctic exploration, making it a valuable addition to any library of adventure literature.

A masterly anthology of extracts from the journals and writings of travelers, explorers, and adventurers throughout history, taking the reader on one unforgettable journey for each day of the year Inviting readers to cross ocean, desert, mountain, and ice-cap in the company of the world's greatest explorers, wanderers, and writers, this day-by-day anthology of travel writing ranges widely across time as well as place: from Christopher Columbus's "discovery" of the West Indies in 1492 to Anton Chekhov's journey through Siberia in the 19th century and on to Wilfred Thesiger's wanderings in Arabia's "empty quarter" in the 1940s. Each quoted extract is accompanied by a brief commentary that intro­duces the writer and establishes the context of the excerpt, while integrated paintings and black and white etchings chime with the period of the chosen extracts. The itinerary offers the astonishment of the 17th-century diarist John Evelyn on beholding the size of women's shoes in Venice; the stoic courage of Captain Scott facing death at 40 degrees below zero; the exasperation of Dylan Thomas at find­ing himself in a "stifflipped, liverish, British Guest House in puking Abadan;" and the philosophical introspection of Fridtjof Nansen as he drifts in an "interminable and rigid world" of Arctic ice. Readers will find Napoleon's travel tips to his niece, a flight over Germany with Hitler, and an ex-pat dinner in Morocco where human blood is served from the fridge by the pint. Covering the whole calendar, including leap years, these 366 journeys are by turn lyrical, witty, tragic, and bizarre—but always entertaining.

Explores the first appearance of 'science fiction' in the pages of late nineteenth-century general interest periodicals.

Using extensive research and firsthand accounts, Riffenburgh provides fascinating insight into the age of British exploration and empire through the vivid and gripping story of a little-known adventurer determined to find fame and fortune by becoming the first man to reach the South Pole.