Expeditions: popular accounts Books

Book SynopsisPatrick, Meg and their family had built a happy, sustainable life in regional Victoria. But in late 2013 they found themselves craving an adventure: a road trip.But theirs was a road trip with a difference. With Zephyr (10), Woody (1) and Zero their Jack Russell, they set off on an epic 6,000km year-long cycling journey along Australia’s east coast, from Daylesford to Cape York and back.Their aim was to live as cheaply as possible – guerrilla camping, hunting, foraging and bartering their permaculture skills, and living on a diet of free food, bush tucker, and the occasional fresh roadkill. They spent time in Aboriginal communities, joined an anti-fracking blockade, documented edible plants, and dodged speeding cars and trucks on the country’s most dangerous highways. The Art of Free Travel is the remarkable story of a rule-breaking year of ethical living.

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Book SynopsisAfter a fifteen-year career as a sled dog racer, musher Dave Olesen turned his focus away from competition and set out to fulfill a lifelong dream. Over the course of four successive winters he steered his dogs and sled on long trips away from his remote Northwest Territories homestead, setting out in turn to the four cardinal compass points - south, east, north, and west - and home again to Hoarfrost River. His narrative ranges from the personal and poignant musings of a dogsled driver to loftier planes of introspection and contemplation. Olesen describes his journeys day by day, but this book is not merely an account of his travels. Neither is it yet another offering in the genre of ""wide-eyed southerner meets the Arctic,"" because Olesen is a firmly rooted northerner, having lived and travelled in the boreal outback for over thirty years. Olesen's life story colours his writing: educated immigrant, husband and father, professional dog musher, working bush pilot, and denizen of log cabins far off the grid. He and his dogs feel at home in country lying miles back of beyond. This book demolishes many of the clichés that imbue writings about bush life, the Far North, and dogsledding. It is a unique blend of armchair adventure, personal memoir, and thoughtful, down-to-earth reflection.Trade Review"Dave Olesen's four midwinter dogsled journeys project struck me as a wonderfully sane choice of place- and self-exploration, reminding me of how Thoreau walked many days across thickets and swamps exploring his homeplace. But what a vast landscape Dave lives in! And what mindful and sympathetic attention it took to pack and plan for not just himself but a whole team of tough and dedicated dogs. I understand why he did it, but the details of how is an education in itself. The book's back matter on winter camping, and on the care of dogs, alone is worth it. The relaxed but steady frame of mind in which he packed and travelled is the key. I salute this man and his passion, and his family for giving him space to explore it. An old Inupiaq Eskimo once said to me as I set out in a canoe on a September river, 'Don't have any adventures!'" -- Gary Snyder, poet; professor of English, UC Davis"'Kinds of Winter' is a chronicle of the beauty, the lore, the why, and the dog sled adventure of travelling across the Barren Lands. It is written by a master of winter travel by dogteam. To anyone who loves the north or who has a curiosity about living in the cold this is a must-read." -- Will Steger, polar explorer and educator; www.willstegerfoundation.org"This is a wonderful book, telling the story of four incredible journeys by a remarkable man." -- Kathleen Coskran, author of 'The High Price of Everything'"A vivid armchair traveler experience like no other, Kinds of Winter is highly recommended." -- Midwest Book Review"Working animals were once a staple of town and country life: pit ponies, sheep herders, warehouse mousers. All lesser mammals were bred for chores or meat. The main thing to remember, says a friend who's spent a lifetime with horses, is that they don't care about your feelings.... To watch huskies scrap with each other, or to watch dogs go after a teammate who has for some reason become a scapegoat, is sobering to anyone who tries to mold dogs to a human model or to elevate them to a preconceived notion of furry nobility, Olesen writes. They are physical, and we must relate to them on that level.... Olesen's book is a crisp account of a world now gone in urban Canada, when animals worked as hard as their owners." -- Holly Doan -- Blacklock's ReporterTable of ContentsTable of Contents for Kinds of Winter: Four Solo Journeys by Dogteam in Canada's Northwest Territories by Dave OlesenList of IllustrationsAuthor's NoteCompass Points, Over the Boulders, Eager...SouthEastNorthWestAfterwordAppreciations and AcknowledgementsAppendix A: Food, Gear, and Some Notes on Winter CampingAppendix B: The Dogs and Their CareAppendix C: Some Tricks for Dead-Reckoning NavigationNotesGlossary

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Book SynopsisLeaving her job in London, selling her home, leaving family & friends, Lesley travelled to India to be a volunteer teacher in a vocational training centre in Northern India. She learnt of the struggles Tibetan children endure, escaping torture, violence and oppression by the Chinese authorities in their homeland, Tibet. They witnessed the torture and murder of parents, brothers and uncles. They are educated in Tibetan schools in India, many are orphans and destitute, For 2 years Lesley lived with the Tibetan community in the VTC and then a mountain village, Rajpur, undertaking voluntary work and raising sponsorship to support the children s education. In this book Lesley describes her own ups and downs of living with both Indian and Tibetan cultures and recounts the poignant stories of the children, describing in their own words the suffering they escaped and what their hopes are for the future.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the 1882 Palmer Sinai Expedition, a spying and terrorist mission that ended in the murder of its participants and was one of the great cause celebre of the nineteenth century. Just before sunset on August 8th 1882 HMS Cockatrice, a small paddle wheel gunboat, appeared off the Egyptian shore. A rowing boat was lowered down its side and slowly moved towards the beach. On its arrival, six men and a teenage boy alighted. Three of the group were British, all dressed as Arabs, two were Bedouin tribesmen, one a Jew and one a Syrian. The following morning, this mismatched party set off for the desert, taking with them two boxes of dynamite and GBP3,000 in gold coin. Five of them were never seen again. An historical 'who-done-it', an adventure story, a history of the Anglo-Egyptian War and a biography of those involved in the controversy, /These Chivalrous Brothers/ explores the gulf between the Imperial ideal and reality and provides an insight into the character of the men who built the Empire. Through the biographies, it also throws light on such disparate topics as the early history of spying, spiritualism, female hysteria, biblical archaeology, various African uprisings, the Boer War and the hunt for 'Jack the Ripper'.

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Book SynopsisWhen English naturalist Joseph Banks (1743–1820) accompanied Captain James Cook (1728–1779) on his historic mission into the Pacific, the Endeavour voyage of 1768–71, he took with him a team of collectors and illustrators. Banks and his team returned from the voyage with unprecedented collections of artefacts and specimens of stunning birds, fish and other animals as well as thousands of plants, most seen for the first time in Europe. They produced, too, remarkable landscape and figure drawings of the peoples encountered on the voyage along with detailed journals and descriptions of the places visited, which, with the first detailed maps of these lands (Tahiti, New Zealand and the East Coast of Australia), were afterwards used to create lavishly illustrated accounts of the mission. These caused a storm of interest in Europe where plays, poems and satirical caricatures were also produced to celebrate and examine the voyage, its personnel and many ‘new’ discoveries. Along with contemporary portraits of key personalities aboard the ship, scale models and plans of the ship itself, scientific instruments taken on the voyage, commemorative medals and sketches, the objects (over 140) featured in this new book will tell the story of the Endeavour voyage and its impact ahead of the 250th anniversary in 2018 of the launch of this seminal mission. Artwork made both during and after the voyage will be seen alongside actual specimens. And by comparing the voyage originals with the often stylized engravings later produced in London for the official account, the book will investigate how knowledge gained on the mission was gathered, revised and later received in Europe. Items separated in some cases for more than two centuries will be brought together to reveal their fascinating history not only during but since that mission. Original voyage specimens will feature together with illustrations and descriptions of them, showing a rich diversity of newly discovered species and how Banks organized this material, planning but ultimately failing to publish it. In fact, many of the objects in the book have never been published before. The book will focus on the contribution of Banks’s often neglected artists Sydney Parkinson, Herman Diedrich Spöring, Alexander Buchan as well as the priest and Pacific voyager Tupaia, who joined Endeavour in the Society Islands, none of whom survived the mission. These men illustrated island scenes of bays, dwellings, canoes as well as the dress, faces and possessions of Pacific peoples. Burial ceremonies, important religious sites and historic encounters were all depicted. Of particular interest, and only recently recognised as by him, are the original artworks of Tupaia, who produced as part of this mission the first charts and illustrations on paper by any Polynesian. The surviving Endeavour voyage illustrations are the most important body of images produced since Europeans entered this region, matching the truly historic value of the plant specimens and artefacts that will be seen alongside them.Trade Review“Handsome volume … a work of fine scholarship.” * International Journal of Maritime History *Beautifully presented and detailed … an authoritative and high-quality book which will be enjoyed by many readers. * Journal of Historical Geography *Endeavouring Banks is beautifully illustrated: 143 objects heavy with the weight of provenance. More powerful perhaps are the underlying resonances … it was a different world that the Endeavour had sailed into, in more than the physical sense." * World of Interiors *A lavishly illustrated account of the expedition." * Australian Geographic *In this fascinating publication, specimens collected by naturalist Joseph Banks on his HMS Endeavour voyage, along with scientific drawings, maps of the ship, and profiles of his travelling companions, including James Cook, give insight into what it might have been like to explore the uncharted South Pacific. * Gardening Australia *

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Book SynopsisWhen the experienced Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin (1786â1847) was put in command of an expedition in 1845 to search for the elusive North-West Passage he had the backing of the Admiralty and was equipped with two specially-adapted ships and a three-year supply of provisions. Franklin was last seen by whalers in Baffin Bay in July 1845. When the expedition failed to return in 1848, enormous resources were mobilised to try to discover its fate. In 1852 H.M.S. 'Assistance' was sent to lead another search mission. It was captained by Edward Belcher (1799â1877), who eventually took the decision to abandon four ships in the pack-ice. He recounts his unsuccessful adventure, defending his actions against critics, in this illustrated two-volume book, first published in 1855, which also includes scientific contributions. Volume 1 describes Belcher's outward journey, Arctic animals such as walruses and whales, and the effects of extreme cold.Table of ContentsPreface; Preliminary; 1. At sea; 2. Anchor at Upernavik; 3. Native dogs; 4. Frozen in; 5. Retreat; 6. The 'Assistance'; 7. Transit telescope; 8. Short days; 9. Rise of temperature; 10. The cairn; 11. Inconvenient elevation; 12. Hamilton Depot; 13. Open water; 14. First symptom of winter.

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Book SynopsisWhen the experienced Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin (1786â1847) was put in command of an expedition in 1845 to search for the elusive North-West Passage he had the backing of the Admiralty and was equipped with two specially-adapted ships and a three-year supply of provisions. Franklin was last seen by whalers in Baffin Bay in July 1845. When the expedition failed to return in 1848, enormous resources were mobilised to try to discover its fate. In 1852 H.M.S. 'Assistance' was sent to lead another search mission. It was captained by Edward Belcher (1799â1877), who recounts his unsuccessful adventure in this illustrated two-volume book, first published in 1855. Volume 2 covers, and attempts to justify, Belcher's much-criticised decision to abandon four ships in the pack-ice. It also contains Belcher's views on reports of cannibalism among Franklin's crew, as well as scientific observations and a fascinating list of provisions.Table of Contents1. Return of Osborn; 2. Moor in-shore; 3. Run of the ice; 4. Increase of temperature; 5. Land reached; 6. Dangers of autumn; 7. Lifting of the ship; 8. Thaw; 9. Import of instructions; Appendix.

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Book SynopsisExplorer and geologist Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (18321901) is best known as leader of the 187880 expedition in which the Eurasian continent was first circumnavigated via the North-East Passage. This book, first published in 1879, details Nordenskiöld's Arctic voyages prior to this expedition.Table of ContentsPreface; 1. The Nordenskiöld family: autobiographical sketch; 2. The Swedish Arctic expeditions of 1858 and 1861; 3. The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1864; 4. The Swedish Polar expedition of 1868; 5. Expedition to Greenland; 6. The Swedish Polar Expedition of 1872–3; 7. Voyage to the Yenissej in 1875 and ascent of the river; 8. Second voyage to the Yenissej in 1876; 9. The North-East Passage Expedition, 1878–9; Appendix 1. Official report to the (Swedish) Royal Board of Health on the hygiene and care of the sick during the Swedish Polar Expedition, 1872–3 Dr Envall; Appendix 2. List of books and memoirs relating to the Swedish Arctic expeditions; Index.

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Book SynopsisPublished in Danish in 1885, and translated into English in 1889, this is a sympathetic biography of the great Danish explorer Vitus Bering (16811741). It describes his experiences in the Russian navy and his many voyages of exploration around Alaska and Siberia, including the ten-year-long Great Northern Expedition.Table of ContentsIntroduction to the American edition Frederick Schwatka; Translator's preface; Author's preface; Part I. Bering's First Expedition: 1. Russia and England in the work of Arctic exploration; 2. Bering's nativity; 3. Plans for Bering's first expedition; 4. Bering's knowledge of Siberian geography; 5. The building of the Gabriel; 6. The task assigned by Peter the Great accomplished; 7. Bering's winter at the fort; Part II. The Great Northern Expedition: 8. Bering's plans for a second expedition; 9. The Great Northern Expedition on its way through Siberia; 10. Delay of the expedition caused by the death of Lassenius and his command in the Arctic regions; 11. Final preparations for the Pacific expeditions; Part III. The Various Expeditions: 12. The Arctic expeditions; 13. The discovery of the Kurile Islands and Japan from the North; 14. Preparations for Bering's voyage of discovery to America; 15. The discovery of America from the East; 16. Bering's place of landing on the American coast; 17. Explorations along the American coast; 18. The discovery of the Aleutian Islands; 19. The stay on Bering Island; Appendix. Bering's report to the Admiralty from Okhotsk; Notes; Index.

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Book SynopsisDescribed as 'a record of solid achievement in the face of hardship and difficulty', Jackson's 1899 account of his Arctic expedition describes a forbidding terrain of ice and snow. Volume 2 includes accounts of new lands, and a famous encounter with Nansen, as well as a substantial scientific appendix.Table of Contents22. The British Channel an open sea; 23. We discover new land; 24. At Cape Flora; 25. A man on the ice!; 26. The darkness of a third winter is upon us; 27. We prepare again for sledging; 28. Queen Victoria Sea and the North-West; 29. Water, water everywhere; 30. We lose our provisions; 31. How we kept the Queen's Jubilee; 32. Unexpected return of the expedition; 33. No Gillis Land; 34. Home again!; 35. Concerning scurvy; Appendix. Notes and descriptions of the eggs collected by Frederick G. Jackson and the Jackson–Harmsworth Polar expedition in Franz Josef Land, 1894 to 1897 F. W. Frohawk; Notes on the birds of Franz Josef Land seen by the Jackson–Harmsworth Polar expedition, 1894 to 1897 Frederick George Jackson; Botany of Franz Josef Land Harry Fisher; Notes on the meteorological observations in Franz Joseph Land of the Jackson–Harmsworth Polar expedition A. B. Armitage; Some results of meteorological observations made at Cope Flora, Franz Josef Land Mr Strachan; Tables; Remarks, etc.; Journal of Aurora; Short statement upon the geology of Franz Josef Land Reginald Koettlitz; Notes on a collection of rocks and fossils from Franz Josef Land, made by the Jackson–Harmsworth Polar expedition during 1894–1896 E. T. Newton, J. J. H. Teall; Absolute declinations at Cape Flora A. B. Armitage; Temperatures of soil, water, etc. H. Fisher; Tidal observations take at Cape Flora A. B. Armitage; Positions obtained by observations of [circled dot] on boat journey; Report on the flora of Franz Joseph Land from Cape Barents to Cape Neale H. Fisher; Synopsis of wind forces and direction for May, June, and July, 1895; Synopsis of wind forces; Positions of camps, etc., on sledging journey; Abstract of weather on sledge journey north, April 16th to May 13th, 1895; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe French general and historian Philippe-Paul, Comte de SÃgur (1780â1873) served as a member of Napoleon's personal staff during the Russian campaign. He had joined the cavalry in 1800 and had distinguished himself during earlier episodes of the European war; this led to him being chosen for several diplomatic missions. His two-volume account of the invasion of Russia, first published in French in 1824, has been through many editions and has been translated into many languages. It is both a military history and an eyewitness account. This English translation was first published in 1825 and remains immensely valuable to historians' understanding of Napoleon's ultimately disastrous Russian strategy. Volume 1 begins with the reasons behind the decision to invade and includes the Battle of Borodino, in which over seventy thousand people were killed. It concludes on 12 September 1812, two days before Napoleon's army reached Moscow.Table of ContentsBooks I-VII.

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Book SynopsisThe French general and historian Philippe-Paul, Comte de SÃgur (1780â1873) served as a member of Napoleon's personal staff during the Russian campaign. He had joined the cavalry in 1800 and had distinguished himself during earlier episodes of the European war; this led to him being chosen for several diplomatic missions. His two-volume account of the invasion of Russia, first published in French in 1824, has been through many editions and has been translated into many languages. It is both a military history and an eyewitness account. This English translation was first published in 1825 and remains immensely valuable to historians' understanding of Napoleon's ultimately disastrous Russian strategy. Volume 2 begins with Napoleon's arrival in Moscow on 14 September 1812. The remainder of the book charts the events of the army's retreat, details the conditions endured and the lives lost in the course of it.Table of ContentsBooks VIII-XII.

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Book SynopsisWilliam Fitzwilliam Owen (1774â1857) was a British naval officer. Between 1821 and 1826 he commanded an expedition to Africa, Arabia and Madagascar with the Royal Navy ships Leven and Barracouta, during which he mapped some 30,000 miles of coastline. His memoirs of the voyage are presented in this two-volume account, first published in 1833. Volume 2 continues to describe the rituals of the native peoples whom Owen's crew encountered - and who were at times hostile - and the tragic deaths on board the ships from tropical diseases, which with better planning might have been avoided. The volume also covers the lives of colonists and missionaries, the slave trade, and the spread of European influence across Africa and its neighbouring lands. Providing a vivid account of African exploration in the nineteenth century, Owen's writings remain of great interest to geographers, historians and anthropologists.Table of Contents1. Quit Zanzibar; 2. Querimba Islands; 3. Leave the Barracouta; 4. Harbour of Tamatave; 5. The Senna expedition; 6. Town of Senna; 7. A priest's extortion; 8. Sandy island; 9. Coast of Madagascar; 10. Radama; 11. Interview with Radama; 12. Commerce; 13. The funeral; 14. The Seychelles islands; 15. A massacre; 16. Leave the Seychelles; 17. Join the 'Albatross'; 18. A boy sold; 19. Kidnapped seamen; 20. A native king's son; 21. Bijooga islands; 22. Captain Vidal's proceedings; 23. Population and commerce; 24. Scenery in Kabenda bay; 25. People of Cape Lopez; 25a. Corisco bay; 26. Fernando Po; 27. Intended visit to King Peppel; 28. Rivers between Cape Formosa and the Bonny; 29. Survey of the Gambia; Appendix.

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Book SynopsisIn the mid-nineteenth century, the northern coastline of North America was of particular interest to the Hudson's Bay Company as it was believed to hold the key to the elusive North-West Passage, a trade route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Recruited to lead a team to survey part of this forbidding region, the Scottish explorer John Rae (1813â93) undertook his first expedition during 1846â7. It was remarkable not only for its success, but also because Rae's was the first crew to overwinter in the Arctic. Unlike other Victorian explorers, Rae embraced the culture of the Inuit and learnt to live off the land like them, which enabled him to complete his survey. First published in 1850, this journal relates the details of his journey as well as how he and his men survived the extreme conditions. It remains a valuable document in the history of Arctic exploration.Table of Contents1. Origin and plan of the expedition; 2. Depart from Churchill; 3. Receive a visit from a female party; 4. State of things at Repulse Bay; 5. Winter arrangements completed; 6. Set out for the north; 7. Preparations for exploring the coast of Melville Peninsula; 8. Occurrences at Fort Hope during the absence of the exploring party; 9. Voyage from Repulse Bay to York Factory; Appendix. List of mammalia; List of birds; List of fishes; List of plants; Specimens of rocks; Dip of the needle and force of magnetic attraction at various stations; Abstract of meteorological journal from September 1846 to August 1847.

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Book SynopsisThe surgeon William Ainsworth (1807â96) acted as the geologist of the 1835 Euphrates Expedition, his account of which is also reissued in this series. Great interest was aroused by the scientific and archaeological findings of that journey, and a further expedition was funded, ostensibly to make contact with the Nestorian Christians of the region, but covertly to make further mineralogical investigations. Ainsworth was the leader of the expedition, and his two-volume account was published in 1842. Starting from Istanbul in 1839, Ainsworth took a route through Asia Minor, northern Syria, Kurdistan, Persia and Armenia, returning to Istanbul in 1840. The expedition was regarded as unsuccessful, as Ainsworth had massively overspent on the budget originally allotted by the sponsors, and his secret activities were discovered by the Ottoman authorities, but the work remains a vivid account of the area. Volume 1 covers events up to the battle of Nezib in 1839.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Suburb of Constantinople; 2. Ismid; 3. The hero's stone; 4. The hollow rock; 5. Upland of Iflani; 6. Virgin's castle; 7. Town of Osmanjik; 8. Town of Changri; 9. A French instructor of cavalry; 10. Quit Angora; 11. Deserted mines and foxes; 12. Utch Ayak; 13. Christians of Nev Shehr; 14. Koch Hisar; 15. Iron village; 16. Kaiseriyeh; 17. Viran Shehr; 18. Start from Derendah; 19. Passage of the Taurus; 20. Vale of Gergen Kafehsi; 21. Retrospective; 22. Town of Birehjik; 23. Prisoners of water; 24. Position of the Turks turned by the enemy; 25. Line of retreat.

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Book SynopsisAn engrossing history of the voyages of exploration that ignited curiosity about nature and gave birth to modern science.Trade Review"Ranges across 400 years of history with characters from Christopher Columbus to Charles Darwin. Shores of Knowledge explains how the curiosity of Old Europe broke free of church dogma, creating the world we inhabit today." "A unique perspective... Appleby tells it through the contributions of an array of characters-explorers, writers, collectors and early naturalists- giving the reader a sense of the progress over the centuries as seen through their eyes." -- Marcia Bartusiak "An ambitious book that covers the sweep of history from Columbus to Darwin-and finds unexpected kinship between explorers and scientists of those centuries... Fascinating!" -- Mark Anderson, author of The Day the World Discovered the Sun "An invigorating journey through time and space, shedding insight into the relationship between science and society." -- John Gribbin, author of Erwin Schrodinger and the Quantum Revolution "Like an exotic seed washed up from a distant land, Joyce Appleby's Shores of Knowledge blossoms in marvelous ways. This supple and sparkling chronicle of discovery shows why even Columbus was baffled by his myriad discoveries, and how Europeans gradually decoded the mysteries of the New World. A lucid account of cultural transmission." -- Laurence Bergreen, author of Columbus "Christopher Columbus's landing in the Western Hemisphere in 1492 marked a decisive moment in world history. But as Joyce Appleby argues in this lucid and economically written survey of scientific thought, its intellectual impact unfolded gradually. In riveting prose, she shows how American geography, peoples, flora, and fauna forced European scientists to alter their understanding of nature. Those interested in the intersection of exploration and scientific knowledge should book passage on Professor Appleby's charming, story-filled journey across the Atlantic and back again." -- Peter Mancall, author of The Fatal Journey

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Book SynopsisThe true, harrowing story of the ill-fated 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition and the two men who came to define it.

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Book SynopsisThe celebrated journals of Lewis and Clark's legendary expedition into the uncharted American West, abridged into a single volume and translated into modern English, with nuanced observations from star author and journalist Anthony Brandt. At the start of the 19th century, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked on an unprecedented voyage of discovery. Their assignment was to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and record the geography, flora, fauna, and people they encountered along the way. This updated edition of the captains' journals combines historical insight from editor Anthony Brandt with the rich detail of Lewis and Clark's original writing, as well as archival maps and artwork. An enthralling portrait of the unspoiled West, this true-life adventure story is a window to the dawning of America--from encounters with grizzly bears to councils with tribal leaders and perilous mountain crossings. 'Because the captains don't kn

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Book SynopsisOver a century after she sank, the Endurance has been found, and here, in his own words, Sir Ernest Shackleton tells the extraordinary story of his extraordinary adventure.In 1911 Roald Amundsen beat Robert Falcon Scott to the South Pole, and Scott and his colleagues all died on the return journey. Ernest Shackleton, who had served with Scott on a previous expedition, decided that crossing Antarctica from sea to sea was the last great unattempted journey on the continent. His Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 191417 was a failure. But perhaps because it failed, with Shackleton not only surviving but bringing his crew back alive, the expedition became more famous than many of those adventurous voyages that succeeded.After reaching the Weddell Sea off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, Shackleton's ship the Endurance became trapped in pack ice and spent 1915 drifting northwards. The Endurance was eventually crushed by the ice and sank, leaving 28 men sTrade ReviewStylish, high quality collector's edition * Hardy Boat Owner *Indisputably, Shackleton's compelling account of his epic adventure is a classic. * Sailing Today *Timeless masterpiece... updated with pictures and maps. * Yachting World *

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Book SynopsisA perfect holiday gift for adventurers and arm-chair travelers alike, this inspiring account of a diverse all-women?s expedition to the North Pole reveals the highs and lows of record-breaking, modern-day exploration.?A wonderful collaboration both on the Arctic ice and onto the page. Each team members voice arises to offer a view beyond the physical giving us the essence of a unique adventure.? Ann Bancroft, first woman to reach the North Pole and coauthor of No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women and Their Historic Journey across AntarcticaWhen British Explorer Felicity Aston put out an open call for women with little to no experience willing to brave the elements on an expedition to the North Pole, she was stunned to have over 1000 applicants. After narrowing it down to ten women from ten different countries?some of whom had never seen snow before?the team spent the next two years training for this unique opportunity.Each member of the team tells part of the story in her own words, chronicling their grueling preparation in Iceland and Oman, the anticipation for the journey, and the terrifying conditions of the Arctic. Set against a backdrop of Arctic pack ice that is thinner, newer, and less stable than ever before due to climate change?the team face the realities of hungry polar bears, extreme temperatures, and the possibility that anything and everything could go wrong at any moment.Aston beautifully weaves each woman?s account into the greater expedition narrative, reminding readers of the teamwork needed to complete such a feat. Over 60 stunning photographs illustrate the journey, illuminating the breathtaking landscape along with the joy, pain, and determination of these ten women.Polar Exposure is a powerful celebration of the perseverance of women in science, sports, and exploration that sheds light on all that it takes to reach the top of the world.

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Book SynopsisIn 1869, Civil War veteran and amputee Major John Wesley Powell led an expedition down the uncharted Colorado River through the then-nameless Grand Canyon. This is the story of what started as a geological survey, but ended in danger, chaos, and blood. The men were inexperienced and ill-equipped, and they faced unimaginable peril. Along the way there was death, mutiny, and abject terror, but Powell persevered and produced a masterwork of adventure writing still held in the highest regard by the boatmen who follow his course today. With never-before-used primary sources and firsthand experience navigating Powell’s legendary route, Cecil Kuhne brings this remarkable chapter of frontier history to life. The American Grit series brings you true tales of endurance, survival, and ingenuity from the annals of American history. These books focus on the trials of remarkable individuals with an emphasis on rich primary source material and artwork.

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