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A Fabulous Kingdom: The Exploration of the Arctic
Inconstant and forbidding, the arctic lured misguided voyagers into the cold for centuries--pushing them beyond the limits of their knowledge, technology, and stamina. A Fabulous Tales of the Arctic charts these quests and the eventual race for the North Pole in unprecedented detail,
chronicling the lives and misconceptions that would eventually throw light on this "magical realm" of sunless winters.
Setting the scene with an explanation of the arctic region's geography, geology, and climate, the authors present the physical and ideological barriers that faced early sailors traveling into the uncharted arctic realm. They then follow the explorers and the evolution of the arctic mission,
from the early journeys of Viking Ottar, who rounded the North Cape ca. 870, to northern European expeditions in search of a Northwest or Northeast passage to the riches of sixteenth century Asia. The progressive exploits and findings of Martin Frobisher, John Davis, Henry Hudson, and William Edward
Parry fueled the public's fascination with this new world of ice. Yet with the ill-fated voyage of Sir John Franklin, nations abandoned their belief in the arctic as the way to wealth. Henceforth, it would be private funding and personal motives that would lead English, Scandinavian, and American
men with a redefined to reach the North Pole.
With a fascinating account of nineteenth and twentieth century exploration and the longstanding myth of an open polar sea, the authors reconsider the achievements of the conventional arctic pioneers--Frederick Cook, Robert Peary, and Richard Bird. Moreover, they consider the consequences and
rewards of human ambition and our perilous desire to conquer the unknown.
chronicling the lives and misconceptions that would eventually throw light on this "magical realm" of sunless winters.
Setting the scene with an explanation of the arctic region's geography, geology, and climate, the authors present the physical and ideological barriers that faced early sailors traveling into the uncharted arctic realm. They then follow the explorers and the evolution of the arctic mission,
from the early journeys of Viking Ottar, who rounded the North Cape ca. 870, to northern European expeditions in search of a Northwest or Northeast passage to the riches of sixteenth century Asia. The progressive exploits and findings of Martin Frobisher, John Davis, Henry Hudson, and William Edward
Parry fueled the public's fascination with this new world of ice. Yet with the ill-fated voyage of Sir John Franklin, nations abandoned their belief in the arctic as the way to wealth. Henceforth, it would be private funding and personal motives that would lead English, Scandinavian, and American
men with a redefined to reach the North Pole.
With a fascinating account of nineteenth and twentieth century exploration and the longstanding myth of an open polar sea, the authors reconsider the achievements of the conventional arctic pioneers--Frederick Cook, Robert Peary, and Richard Bird. Moreover, they consider the consequences and
rewards of human ambition and our perilous desire to conquer the unknown.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 16, 2020
If you need a book that provides an introduction to the centuries of exploration in the Arctic, this volume is a good place to start. From the Vikings to the present, the reader learns about the many explorers who were always hoping to discover that quick link between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
"Misguided" is a better description for some of the nutters who sailed into the unknown and frozen seas. While whalers eventually became the experts in the ways of the icebergs, the more romantic adventurers longed for new discoveries, which also meant new deaths and untold suffering. The British, in particular, seemed obsessed with wearing ill-fitting clothes that couldn't withstand below-freezing temperatures and using heavy man-pulled sleds that brought morbidity rather than geographic advancement. I suppose without such hardships, exploring wouldn't be exploring.
Eventually, the Nordic school of exploration took over, including better overall common sense. The Americans had some nutbuckets and these adventurers have some of the most horrid tales. There were also liars who never reached the North Pole and medical doctors who were closer to serial killers than healers of humans. Oh well. It makes for great story-telling.
Book Season = Winter (boldness and luck)
"Misguided" is a better description for some of the nutters who sailed into the unknown and frozen seas. While whalers eventually became the experts in the ways of the icebergs, the more romantic adventurers longed for new discoveries, which also meant new deaths and untold suffering. The British, in particular, seemed obsessed with wearing ill-fitting clothes that couldn't withstand below-freezing temperatures and using heavy man-pulled sleds that brought morbidity rather than geographic advancement. I suppose without such hardships, exploring wouldn't be exploring.
Eventually, the Nordic school of exploration took over, including better overall common sense. The Americans had some nutbuckets and these adventurers have some of the most horrid tales. There were also liars who never reached the North Pole and medical doctors who were closer to serial killers than healers of humans. Oh well. It makes for great story-telling.
Book Season = Winter (boldness and luck)
June 2, 2019
Though not to the level of “The Arctic Grail” this is a light read that can introduce the reader to the quests of Arctic explorers. Trying as it does to be an overall history of Arctic exploration it does gloss over some of the detail that fervent Arctic Historians would consider vital to a real understanding. It does its job I introducing a new enthusiast to the genre and hopefully spurs them on to more in-depth study.
December 3, 2020
Good and thoroughly researched. Also a section on Global Warming which will make you wonder what the heck are we doing.
November 18, 2011
It was very informative about the interesting tales of arctic exploration and was written in a way that gave it an easy flow for reading. It's mind-blowing to think about how willing people were a hundred years ago to risk death in order to gain fame. To think that so many died in the pursuit of the north pole when there is such a huge safety net today is lamentable. The page warning about the perils of global warming was a bit over the top, but at least it was only a page.
November 12, 2008
a great reference resource in a small package. fairly dry writing, more of a geography/history/natural history of artic. but very well done. oxford u press rarely misses.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews