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The First Crossing of Greenland
There was no choice of routes, "forward" being the only word. The order would be: — "Death or the west coast of Greenland"
With his five companions, Nansen rowed ashore on the desolate east coast of Greenland. There was no turning back - they had to succeed in their goal of traversing the inland ice to the inhabited west coast or perish.
They were pioneers - in exploring the inland ice, and in creating the concept of the modern polar expedition; inventing much of the required equipment in the process.
However, this book is doubly interesting because of the meeting of Nansen and his team with the Greenlanders, and how they recognized that they had much to learn from them about living in the polar wastes.
This was Fridtjof Nansen's first expedition, revealing him not only to be an eminent scientist and explorer, but also a fine author.
With his five companions, Nansen rowed ashore on the desolate east coast of Greenland. There was no turning back - they had to succeed in their goal of traversing the inland ice to the inhabited west coast or perish.
They were pioneers - in exploring the inland ice, and in creating the concept of the modern polar expedition; inventing much of the required equipment in the process.
However, this book is doubly interesting because of the meeting of Nansen and his team with the Greenlanders, and how they recognized that they had much to learn from them about living in the polar wastes.
This was Fridtjof Nansen's first expedition, revealing him not only to be an eminent scientist and explorer, but also a fine author.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1890
36 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Fridtjof Nansen
207 books52 followersFridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Best known for the Fram expedition, an attempt to reach the North Pole by using the natural drift of the polar ice in the ship Fram, carrying fuel and provisions for twelve men for five years.
Best known for the Fram expedition, an attempt to reach the North Pole by using the natural drift of the polar ice in the ship Fram, carrying fuel and provisions for twelve men for five years.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 25, 2023
Nansen’s account about the first crossing of Greenland is an absorbing insight into a late-19th/early-20th century renaissance man. This is more than an adventure story about an unprecedented expedition; it is full of insights on nature, the environment, zoology, cultural anthropology, emerging technologies like skis, as well as kayaking and hunting. This narrative became a handbook for later polar explorers. Indeed, Amundsen’s use of dogs for transportation and food on his way to being the first to the South Pole was inspired by Nansen’s post-journey recommendations. His instincts about the bad effects of tobacco and alcohol were far ahead of his time, but his observations about seal hunting—he explained the dramatic decline of seal population was due to their ability to hide rather than indiscriminate slaughter—reveal a quaint ignorance of the times.
Nansen led a six man team that included another great polar explorer, Otto Sverdrup, and two Lapps. They planned be dropped off as close to the eastern coast of Greenland as possible, maneuver their small boats to the shore, and then embark on a northwesterly trek across the ice cap to Christianshaab (Qasingiannguit). After leaving the ship they were driven much further south by the tight ice pack than they anticipated. When they finally reached the coast after 12 days, Nansen poetically describes his joy about being back on solid land: “As I rested there, in the view and mere fact of existence, I heard something come singing through the air and stop in the neighborhood of my hand. It was a good well-known tune it sang, and I looked down at once. It was a gnat, a real gnat, and presently others joined it. I let them sit quietly biting and took pleasure in their attack. They gave me, these dear creatures, sensible proof that I was on land, as they sat there and sucked themselves full and red.” But after a long journey north along the coast to reach their intended starting point for the journey across the ice cap, Nansen hated them and the mosquitoes that swarmed in such great number that his hands sometimes resembled “rough woolen gloves.”
In the almost month-long journey northward they encountered nomadic East Greenland Inuit, who were fascinated by the expedition’s reindeer clothing, something they had never seen, and the metal runners under their boats. When they eventually began their ascent to the interior in late August, they had to maneuver through crevasses as the edge of the ice as the rose to more than 6,000 feet. But once they reached solid ice and snow, they realized that their original goal would be too far and instead decided to travel due west toward Godthaab (Nuuk). Their revolutionary use of skis, sledges and occasional sails increased their speed and limited hardships until they finally made it to land again. Eventually they made their way to Godthaab where they lived with and learned from the West Greenlander settlers made up of Inuit, Danish administrators, and German missionaries until April 1889. A Danish ship brought them back to Copenhagen to “the incredible sufferings that those tormentors of the human race, those ghouls of modern life, by courtesy called interviewers, are allowed to inflict on people as innocent as ourselves.” Some professions never change.
Nansen was the first hero of the fledgling Norwegian nation and his adventure in Greenland propelled him to greater deeds. He had one more incredible polar journey ahead of him, became one of the founding fathers of modern Norway, was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work with European refugees, and was later the the League of Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees. It is trivially interesting to note that this book was published in the same year as Knut Hamsun’s Hunger. Nansen’s work did not have the longevity of Hamsun’s, but each is a classic.
Nansen led a six man team that included another great polar explorer, Otto Sverdrup, and two Lapps. They planned be dropped off as close to the eastern coast of Greenland as possible, maneuver their small boats to the shore, and then embark on a northwesterly trek across the ice cap to Christianshaab (Qasingiannguit). After leaving the ship they were driven much further south by the tight ice pack than they anticipated. When they finally reached the coast after 12 days, Nansen poetically describes his joy about being back on solid land: “As I rested there, in the view and mere fact of existence, I heard something come singing through the air and stop in the neighborhood of my hand. It was a good well-known tune it sang, and I looked down at once. It was a gnat, a real gnat, and presently others joined it. I let them sit quietly biting and took pleasure in their attack. They gave me, these dear creatures, sensible proof that I was on land, as they sat there and sucked themselves full and red.” But after a long journey north along the coast to reach their intended starting point for the journey across the ice cap, Nansen hated them and the mosquitoes that swarmed in such great number that his hands sometimes resembled “rough woolen gloves.”
In the almost month-long journey northward they encountered nomadic East Greenland Inuit, who were fascinated by the expedition’s reindeer clothing, something they had never seen, and the metal runners under their boats. When they eventually began their ascent to the interior in late August, they had to maneuver through crevasses as the edge of the ice as the rose to more than 6,000 feet. But once they reached solid ice and snow, they realized that their original goal would be too far and instead decided to travel due west toward Godthaab (Nuuk). Their revolutionary use of skis, sledges and occasional sails increased their speed and limited hardships until they finally made it to land again. Eventually they made their way to Godthaab where they lived with and learned from the West Greenlander settlers made up of Inuit, Danish administrators, and German missionaries until April 1889. A Danish ship brought them back to Copenhagen to “the incredible sufferings that those tormentors of the human race, those ghouls of modern life, by courtesy called interviewers, are allowed to inflict on people as innocent as ourselves.” Some professions never change.
Nansen was the first hero of the fledgling Norwegian nation and his adventure in Greenland propelled him to greater deeds. He had one more incredible polar journey ahead of him, became one of the founding fathers of modern Norway, was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work with European refugees, and was later the the League of Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees. It is trivially interesting to note that this book was published in the same year as Knut Hamsun’s Hunger. Nansen’s work did not have the longevity of Hamsun’s, but each is a classic.
November 23, 2025
Una apasionante crónica de la expedición de 1889 a través de un territorio tan inhóspito como fascinante. Me ha cautivado especialmente los encuentros con los groenlandeses: su modo de vida, su cultura y su humanidad en una tierra tan salvaje. Un maravilloso libro de aventuras.
December 4, 2012
I originally bought this book because of an exhibition I visited in a museum in Trondheim. I thought the bood would be mainly (like displayed in the exhibition) be about the journey over the ice and the meetings/living with the eskimos (things I found very interesting). Unfortunately Nansen is an old school scientist, so the book included all his notes about the journey - containing preparations, recruting the other members, detailed explanations about all the items used (and how/where they were produced) and so on. Until the 'real' journey starts, you'll be already halfway through the book.
This was the reason I skipped two chapters - the one about the history of skiing and the last one with the conclusions about the journey.
In all the writing style is enjoyable, but when Nansen gets into his 'scientific mood' and starts explaining, it tends to get boring really fast - one of the reasons it took me so long to read this book.
This was the reason I skipped two chapters - the one about the history of skiing and the last one with the conclusions about the journey.
In all the writing style is enjoyable, but when Nansen gets into his 'scientific mood' and starts explaining, it tends to get boring really fast - one of the reasons it took me so long to read this book.
March 29, 2021
Saatus (loe: Elina) mängis mulle niimoodi kätte, et sattusin lugema Fridtjof Nanseni seiklusi Gröönimaa jää peal samal ajal kui ise Arktika ookeani jääs Nanseni-nimelise projekti raames seiklesin. Üllatavalt põnev oli lugeda reisist, kus enamik päevi olid vennad ja suurimad naudingud olid suhkruvesi ja kuivatatud liha. Ka oli huvitav ja kergelt šokeeriv kiigata 150 aasta tagusesse maailma, kus loodusteadlased südamerahuga linde-loomi lasid, nii mõnigi kord ilma igasuguse vajaduseta.
Ise samal ajal sarnastes loodustingimustes elades oli huvitav näha ka ühiseid jooni minu ja Nanseni seiklustes (mis sest, et Nansen magas keset mannerjääd magamiskott üle pea tõmmatud ja mina soojas uurimislaeva kajutis kurtes palavuse üle). Näiteks Arktika looduse rahu ja tühjus; kaalutlemine, mida retkele kaasa võtta ja mitu varu ning loomingulised lahendused olukordades, kus lisamaterjale kuskilt võtta ei olnud; ajataju muundumine ja muust maailmast täielik äralõigatus. Enim aga tundsin sidet Nanseni tsitaadiga: "Söömingud olid meil muidugi oleluse keskpunktiks."
Juba raamatu eessõna Edgari Kantilt aastast 1938 ja Nanseni kõne "Seiklusvaim" on hea põhjus see teos kätte võtta.
Ise samal ajal sarnastes loodustingimustes elades oli huvitav näha ka ühiseid jooni minu ja Nanseni seiklustes (mis sest, et Nansen magas keset mannerjääd magamiskott üle pea tõmmatud ja mina soojas uurimislaeva kajutis kurtes palavuse üle). Näiteks Arktika looduse rahu ja tühjus; kaalutlemine, mida retkele kaasa võtta ja mitu varu ning loomingulised lahendused olukordades, kus lisamaterjale kuskilt võtta ei olnud; ajataju muundumine ja muust maailmast täielik äralõigatus. Enim aga tundsin sidet Nanseni tsitaadiga: "Söömingud olid meil muidugi oleluse keskpunktiks."
Juba raamatu eessõna Edgari Kantilt aastast 1938 ja Nanseni kõne "Seiklusvaim" on hea põhjus see teos kätte võtta.
December 23, 2025
Storslått polarlitteratur, godt å lese i sofakroken på Finse.
March 24, 2024
What an absolutely, remarkable story. I loved it all. The preparation before the journey is fascinating. The journey is incredible. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2024
I picked up The First Crossing of Greenland by Fridtjof Nansen, a public domain reprint from the 1892 edition on a whim from a local used bookstore. I had no idea what to expect from it, was a fascinating read. I definitely had both Nanook of the North and the first season of The Terror in the back of my mind while reading it.
August 15, 2013
This is an abridged version of Nansen's classic "Pa Ski Over Groenland", which was originally published in Norwegian in 1890 and was then soon translated into several other languages. It tells the story of how in 1888 the explorer, with a team of five, made the first complete traverse of Greenland.
August 28, 2019
Lydbok. På norsk. Spennende og interessant, og mye mer enn bare ski-gåinga.
September 28, 2021
Ohh, see on lihtsalt suurepärane reisikiri!
Kuna ma kiita ei oska, siis toon vaid mõned laused ühest lõigust. Kui oldi just jõutud üle Gröönimaa jääkilbi, saare teisele kaldale. Nansen ja Sverdrup läksid kelkudest kokkususserdatud paadiga küla otsima, laplased kimasid jahile, ja kaks ülejäänud tüüpi, Kristian ja Oluf, jäid kaldale kodinaid valvama, ja üks neist kirjutas nii:
"Sõime [hommikul] supist kõhud täis ja olime rõõmsad. Kohal, kus olime maabunud, kasvas õnnetuseks suurel hulgal kukemarju (Emptrum nigrum). Oli päris loomulik, et sõime neid magustoiduks. Olime pidanud kaua säärasest kraamist ilma olema, seetõttu sõime alguses püsti, siis istudes ja kui siis ka enam ei läinud, heitsime pikali ja nüüd võisime uskumatult pikalt vastu pidada. ..//.. Lõppeks olime nii väsinud, et me neid enam mitte kätega, vaid kõhuli lebades suuga noppisime. Siis uinusime nii, nagu me seal lebasime, ja magasime õhtuni; kui aga avasime silmad, rippusid marjad, suurtena, mahlastena ja sinakasmustadena meie silme ees. Loomulikult sõime jälle, kuni uuesti magama jäime."
Niimoodi see elu seal Arktika ekspeditsioonidel käibki...
Kuna ma kiita ei oska, siis toon vaid mõned laused ühest lõigust. Kui oldi just jõutud üle Gröönimaa jääkilbi, saare teisele kaldale. Nansen ja Sverdrup läksid kelkudest kokkususserdatud paadiga küla otsima, laplased kimasid jahile, ja kaks ülejäänud tüüpi, Kristian ja Oluf, jäid kaldale kodinaid valvama, ja üks neist kirjutas nii:
"Sõime [hommikul] supist kõhud täis ja olime rõõmsad. Kohal, kus olime maabunud, kasvas õnnetuseks suurel hulgal kukemarju (Emptrum nigrum). Oli päris loomulik, et sõime neid magustoiduks. Olime pidanud kaua säärasest kraamist ilma olema, seetõttu sõime alguses püsti, siis istudes ja kui siis ka enam ei läinud, heitsime pikali ja nüüd võisime uskumatult pikalt vastu pidada. ..//.. Lõppeks olime nii väsinud, et me neid enam mitte kätega, vaid kõhuli lebades suuga noppisime. Siis uinusime nii, nagu me seal lebasime, ja magasime õhtuni; kui aga avasime silmad, rippusid marjad, suurtena, mahlastena ja sinakasmustadena meie silme ees. Loomulikult sõime jälle, kuni uuesti magama jäime."
Niimoodi see elu seal Arktika ekspeditsioonidel käibki...
December 8, 2025
The First Crossing of Greenland surprised me—in the best way. I picked it up expecting a straightforward exploration narrative, but what I got was a story that felt bold, human, and strangely inspiring.
There’s something powerful about following people who push themselves to the absolute edge, not because they have to, but because something inside them refuses to settle. As I read, I found myself imagining the cold, the silence, the sheer determination it must have taken to keep going. It made me appreciate not just the journey across Greenland, but the internal journeys we all make when we’re trying to prove something to ourselves.
Was every part perfect? No. Some sections felt a bit dense or slower than others. But overall, the spirit of adventure, the sense of history, and the raw perseverance kept me turning pages.
A compelling, gritty, and unexpectedly moving read. Solid 4 stars.
There’s something powerful about following people who push themselves to the absolute edge, not because they have to, but because something inside them refuses to settle. As I read, I found myself imagining the cold, the silence, the sheer determination it must have taken to keep going. It made me appreciate not just the journey across Greenland, but the internal journeys we all make when we’re trying to prove something to ourselves.
Was every part perfect? No. Some sections felt a bit dense or slower than others. But overall, the spirit of adventure, the sense of history, and the raw perseverance kept me turning pages.
A compelling, gritty, and unexpectedly moving read. Solid 4 stars.
June 20, 2018
For staying calm in danger Nansen is superb. Of course its hard to know if he comes over calmer in print than he and his companions actually felt at the time... However, his wonderful calmness is heartening compared to our times, when anxiety is talked up on the most trivial of occasions.
There are also tender passages in this book, when he takes time to appreciate the beauty of the scenery. Again his appreciation is not dramatised into hysteria. And he even took the time, in those conditions, to make sketches.
A wonderful book.
There are also tender passages in this book, when he takes time to appreciate the beauty of the scenery. Again his appreciation is not dramatised into hysteria. And he even took the time, in those conditions, to make sketches.
A wonderful book.
January 15, 2022
A translation of the 1890 book of Nansen’s journey across Greenland from east to west. Love reading adventure books especially those from the “olden days”. They were so tough then - all natural handmade gear, hardcore food, and simple physical conditioning. No GPS, sat phones or weather forecasts. Love how he recruited the Lapps - the two who came forward didn’t fit his bill at all but away they went.
July 10, 2025
[4.5 / 5.0] ★★★★★
Ebok, Norsk, Bookbites/Biblioteket
Her skriver Fridtjof Nansen selv om ferden i 1888-89. Det fortelles om forberedelsene og utstyret de hadde med, bekledning, kosthold, utfordringer, observasjoner av landskap og værforhold, dyreliv, historie, og Grønlands urbefolkning.
Ebok, Norsk, Bookbites/Biblioteket
Her skriver Fridtjof Nansen selv om ferden i 1888-89. Det fortelles om forberedelsene og utstyret de hadde med, bekledning, kosthold, utfordringer, observasjoner av landskap og værforhold, dyreliv, historie, og Grønlands urbefolkning.
February 26, 2019
Spændende og vellæst beskrivelse af Nansen og hans fem rejsefællers skirejse over indlandsisen 1888-1889. I denne orginaludgave på 704 sider inklusive detaljerede beskrivelser af deres observationer, både naturvidenskabelige og kulturelle.
January 4, 2020
This is very complete description of the first crossing of Greenland. There are plenty of adventures even before actual crossing begins and lesser men would have easily perished in events that happen in the book. Enjoyable to read.
May 17, 2019
Nansen the the ultimate baddass. The most interesting man in the world.
July 23, 2021
Jääävla ball
November 8, 2022
the lapps he brings with him need their own book
June 26, 2021
Se me hizo bastante largo
November 28, 2017
This review is for På ski over Grønland. Omarbeidet utgave - the shortened down version of På ski over Grønland.
In the summer I read Fram over polhavet (Farthest North) also by Fridtjof Nansen and it was one of the best books I have ever read. Bad-ass 18-century scientist, who can write as well as a professional author. This book is a hidden pearl.
After than I have been looking for more. "På ski over Grønland" is an obvious choice. I read the shortened down version. The longer version has all sorts of scientific observation and is really more of a handbook in Arctic exploration. This version is about a forth of the original book.
It is a good book. Well written and entertaining. But I regret a bit not going for the original version. Part of the bad-ass scientist details have been cut away, I guess.
These was one page explaining navigation/position determination. Details like how the theodolit is used for positioning. I found the same passage in the original version, and to my surprise it was a lot shorter and lacking the fundamental explanations. I guess that knowledge was commonplace to anyone interested in the subject back then.
In the summer I read Fram over polhavet (Farthest North) also by Fridtjof Nansen and it was one of the best books I have ever read. Bad-ass 18-century scientist, who can write as well as a professional author. This book is a hidden pearl.
After than I have been looking for more. "På ski over Grønland" is an obvious choice. I read the shortened down version. The longer version has all sorts of scientific observation and is really more of a handbook in Arctic exploration. This version is about a forth of the original book.
It is a good book. Well written and entertaining. But I regret a bit not going for the original version. Part of the bad-ass scientist details have been cut away, I guess.
These was one page explaining navigation/position determination. Details like how the theodolit is used for positioning. I found the same passage in the original version, and to my surprise it was a lot shorter and lacking the fundamental explanations. I guess that knowledge was commonplace to anyone interested in the subject back then.
August 12, 2020
At last! It took me so long to get through the two hefty volumes of this book. It was worth it, though. Most interesting is the meat of the book, the actual crossing of Greenland. Both ends of the book are extended with lengthy exposition, the end of this second volume filled with chapters about wintering in Greenland while waiting for a ship, information on the native inhabitants, and a long appendix of scientific observations. I did skim a little through some of these. It was all interesting, but if you're after an account of an adventure you might be best just reading from the start of their journey to the arrival at civilisation on the West coast.
May 17, 2024
Moral del I: det er chillern å sulte og det er hardt å vere polfarer. (Og samer er litt dumme og litt late).
Moral del II: eskimoer (inuitter) er bra folk og europerne (danskene og nordmennene) har fucket dem og deira livsgrunnlag. Del to er eit krigsrop for iniuttene, og sikkert radikal lesing sin tid. (Nansen meiner at inuittene er smarte og kloke, og har det bedre uten europeisk innblanding).
Europa ut av Grønland!! Mitt nye motto. Avkristn Grønland! Bring back the angakoq. Og meir sel til kajakk og mindre sel til smukke fruer på vestkanten. Seriøst det er deprimerende kor dundrende me går frem i vår sivilisasjonsbygging i blant. Heldigvis er vi ferdige med det.
PS heia norge
Moral del II: eskimoer (inuitter) er bra folk og europerne (danskene og nordmennene) har fucket dem og deira livsgrunnlag. Del to er eit krigsrop for iniuttene, og sikkert radikal lesing sin tid. (Nansen meiner at inuittene er smarte og kloke, og har det bedre uten europeisk innblanding).
Europa ut av Grønland!! Mitt nye motto. Avkristn Grønland! Bring back the angakoq. Og meir sel til kajakk og mindre sel til smukke fruer på vestkanten. Seriøst det er deprimerende kor dundrende me går frem i vår sivilisasjonsbygging i blant. Heldigvis er vi ferdige med det.
PS heia norge
April 22, 2020
It's taken me a while to get to the end of the first volume. If you just want to read about the adventure, maybe the abridged version would be better, but this original (in translation) is fascinating. Full of rich details of the voyage and the start of their foray inland, with Nansen's typical insight and humour, the book also discusses in detail Inuit ways of life, and the history of European exploration of Greenland. This can feel a bit tedious when you're reading to find out about Nansen's journey, but worth reading all the same. Onwards to Volume 2...
August 16, 2012
in norwegian
August 4, 2014
Swedish edition, 1985, included "Eskimoliv"
July 18, 2019
Kunne gjerne vært lengre! En flott teaser som bevarer eventyret og gode passasjer, men som Nansen gjerne skulle fått brodere videre på.
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