Expeditions: popular accounts Books

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 SynopsisIn the 18th and 19th centuries, treasure-hunting became a professional occupation. Presenting a story of a national obsession, this work features a history of a peculiarly English phenomenon - of outstanding bravery, of exceptional recklessness, and above all, of dreams of treasure.Trade Review"* 'His scholarship is solid, and his telling if this complex story is lucid and well-paced.' Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph * 'A thoroughly entertaining read that dispels a number of myths and spins many a good yarn' Daily Mail * 'Masterful...a much needed reappraisal' The Sunday Times, Best Summer Books * 'Peter Earle's distinguished and thorough study... puts all kinds of preconceptions about piracy to the sword... a fascinating and timely reminder that no outlaw ever exists outside the society he opposes' Scotland on Sunday"

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Book Synopsis''A life-affirming book'' Daily Mail''An uplifting personal story of a year lived like no other'' Daily ExpressTwo days after her husband of sixty-seven years dies, nonagenarian Miss Norma is diagnosed with cancer. When given her treatment options - surgery, chemo and radiotherapy - she rises to her full five feet and says in the strongest voice she can muster: ''I'm ninety years old. I'm hitting the road!'' Driving Miss Norma is the story of her inspirational road trip across the US in a thirty-six-foot motorhome with her son, Tim, his wife, Ramie and their Poodle, Ringo - showing us that it''s never too late to begin an adventure, inspire hope or become a trailblazer. As the journey unfolds, Miss Norma finally spreads her wings and lives life on her own terms for the very first time. With each adventure a once timid Miss Norma says YES to living in the face of death - whether it''s experiencing her very first pedicure or tTrade ReviewProfound * The Guardian *This life-affirming book is an inspirational account... It's about three people learning to let go of their fears and find love and trust in each other and the world around them. * Daily Mail *The author celebrates life and offers a heartfelt vision of what dying a good death really means . . . Uplifting and life-affirming. * Kirkus Reviews *Joyful and moving… offers profound insights into how we choose to live. * Publishers Weekly (starred review). This text refers to the Audio CD edition. *An uplifiting personal story of a year lived like no other... a touching and eloquently argued manifesto for a different kind of care for the elderly, one that embraces joy, life and human connection. -- Jane Warren * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisRobert Whitaker is a science journalist and the author, most recently, of the much-acclaimed Mad in America. He has won the George Polk Award for Medical Writing and a National Association of Science Writers' Award for best magazine article. He was a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, considered US journalism's top prize. Robert Whitaker's long fascination with South America began in the late 1970s, when he built and lived in a bamboo hut on the Ecuadorian coast. He now lives and writes in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Trade Review'Gripping...one of the best books I have read this year' * DAILY TELEGRAPH *'An unlikely page-turner...as a testament to frustration, endurance and mutual devotion, this takes some beating' * SUNDAY TIMES *'Enthralling...Full of mystery and danger, bravery and tragedy, with a rapturous love story at its core that transcends both time and continents. A marvellous read' * DENNIS LEHANE *'In the brilliant tradition of Dava Sobel's Longitude...combines powerful storytelling with excellent historical research in a book that reads like a novel' * ALAN LIGHTMAN, author of 'Einstein's Dreams' *'An exemplary narrative history and a fascinating tale of science, love and survival' * MARK HONIGSBAUM, author of 'The Fever Trail' *

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Book SynopsisDreams as R-evolution is both the catalogue for an art installation of the same name, and a work of art itself. The book is a sumptuously-designed record of an exhibit conveying the work of Durban-based artist, Coral Bijoux, landscaped into the spaces of the Westville Plant Nursery.Trade ReviewDreams as R-evolution is both the catalogue for an art installation of the same name, and a work of art itself. The book is a sumptuously-designed record of an exhibit conveying the work of Durban-based artist, Coral Bijoux, landscaped into the spaces of the Westville Plant Nursery. Among the images that open the book is text by the artist that functions as a poem, a warning, and as historical observation. “When you want to enslave a people, you steal their ability to dream.” Reminiscent of the U.S. Black poet Langston Hughes’ 1951 lyric, “A Dream Deferred,” (What happens to a dream deferred/Does it dry up/Like a raisin in the sun…Or does it explode?), Bijoux’s text prepares us to consider dreaming as an act of insurrection. Rich color photography reveals Bijoux’s suggestively figurative and fanciful work with its tones of menace and restriction, her use of plastic in the contrastingly green and vibrant environment of the nursery, sheets of clear plastic hanging and wafting like ghosts, shapes of little girls with iron grills in their mouths, lounging animals, abstract forms, plastic the artists calls “a toxic material that will not leave us” because it is so difficult to recycle, and the artist herself adorned in jewelry of plastic spoons and formal gown;the plastic is a suffocating artifact of an artificial, threatening, and wasteful social order. At the same time, the way the art pieces are planted, so to speak – among the greenery of plants and trees, curtains of artist-made leaves, figures interacting with soil and green life – creates an ecology of hope. In many ways, this volume contains multitudes, certainly in the population of creatures, spirits, beings, structures, flags, life forms, objects, and mysteries erected by the artist like an imaginary city of dreams and dreamers throughout the installation. The multitude is also evident because Bijoux has opened her art to the observations of several writers and poets who center their voices around possibilities emanating from the work, and their own artistic endeavors. Meditations by Salim Washington, Prof H. Baijnath, Usha Seejarim, André Croucamp, Pralini Naidoo, Malika Ndlovu, Tracy-Lee Easthorpe, Diana Ferrus, Ashraf Jamal, and Bijoux herself offer layers of memory, thought, and history to absorb. Bijoux’s text functions as a guide throughout Dreams as R-evolution, revealing aspects of her life story as the descendant of an order that construed human beings into categories such as “colored” that defined her family and township, her thoughts on the self as a construction, racial justice, the palpability of history in our current lives, our existence as part of the natural world, and the salvation that can be found in dreams.Table of Contents1. Dreams as R-evolution; 2. Lalela Umoya (Listen to the Wind); 3. The Door of No Return; 4. Bio-illuminating Bilirubin; 5. Six Years of Dreaming; 6. Junk Status; 7. Future Ancestor; 8. Embedded yet Unbound; 9. I've Walked Through the Darkness; 10. 'n Blom sal Ontluik; 11. Orphan Nursery

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Book SynopsisFrank A. Worsley was the Captain of the H. M. S. Endurance, the ship used by the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton in his 1914-16 expedition to the Antarctic. On its way to the Antarctic continent the Endurance became trapped and then crushed by ice, and the ship''s party of twenty-eight drifted in an ice floe for five months. Finally reaching an uninhabited island, Shackleton, Worsley and four others sailed eight hundred miles in a small boat to the island of South Georgia, an astounding feat of navigation and courage. All hands survived this ill-fated expedition; as Worsley writes, ''By self-sacrifice and throwing his own life into the balance, (Shackleton) saved every one of his men...although at times it looked unlikely that one could be saved.''Trade ReviewA breath-taking story of courage, skill and determination under the most appalling conditions -- Sir Edmund HillaryOne of the great survival stories of our time * Library Journal *A remarkable book... Worsley writes without heroics...but makes us feel to the marrow the conditions that the party endured before all hands were rescued * New Yorker *Simply gripping * Irish Mountain Log *A stirring account of a fascinating adventure * Sunday Tribune *

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Book SynopsisIn the breaststrokes of Roger Deakin's Waterlog, this is the story of one man's search for himself across the breadth of Britain's wild waters.Trade Review'Lovely, lively, passionate... a celebration of nature's ability to inspire healing and joy' Robert MacFarlane‘Minihane writes with refreshing candour... a transformative emotional journey’ Observer 'Roger Deakin’s Waterlog journey, rebooted for the 21st century, Floating is a delicious slice of nature writing with a truly human heart' Alexandra Heminsley, author of Leap In ‘Minihane writes cleanly and with honesty, and never misses a factual or stylistic stroke’ TLS'A gem... so thoughtful. Prose as clean and beautiful as a good swim' Jessica Lee, author of Turning‘An ode to the joys of wild swimming in Britain’ Lonely Planet‘I love this book... this has to sit next to Waterlog in every swimmer’s library’ Jenny Landreth, author of Swell: A Waterbiography'Minihane finds in swimming a rare moment of being free from anxiety and learns that it can be integral in overcoming depression' Wanderlust ‘A string of immersive green dreams, from still, pollen-dusted ponds of warm days to the cold churning power of the sea... this is an effortless, absorbing read. Floating highlights the beautiful variety of outdoor swims possible in Britain and the great positive impact they can have’ Caught by the River ‘Minihane writes with a compulsive honesty and clarity that draws you into its stream as beguiling as any river Deakin ever swam – a wonderful read. Highly recommended!’ Kate Rew founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society‘Engaging and enjoyable... as much a commentary on the changing nature of Britain as a celebration of wild swimming’ The Idler‘A wonderful book: a love letter to wild swimming, a hate letter to anxiety and a story of how we can learn to live with ourselves, our overclocked minds, even after we climb out of the water’ Joe Dunthorne, author of Submarine

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Book Synopsis''You almost feel you are taking that trek with the party as Robert Macklin cites the obstacles - torrential river crossings, dense bush, the Snowy Mountains and more. Macklin covers Hume''s public and private life, emphasising his affinity with the country and rapport with the Indigenous people, as well as providing a portrait of the evolving colony.'' SYDNEY MORNING HERALDThe stirring untold story of a true Australian hero who opened up the nation.While English-born soldiers, sailors and surveyors have claimed pride of place among the explorers of the young New South Wales colony, the real pathfinder was a genuine native-born Australian. Hamilton Hume, a man with a profound understanding of the Aboriginal people and an almost mystical relationship with the Australian bush, led settlers from the cramped surrounds of Sydney Town to the vast fertile country that would provide the wealth to found and sustain a new nation.Robert Macklin, author of the criTrade ReviewTo Come * Canberra Times *This is an enjoyable, enlightening account that should be read by every thinking adult. * MC Reviews *For those who enjoy reading about Australian history, and the making of a nation, I highly recommend Hamilton Hume as an enjoyable and fascinating read. * The Reviewers blog *Our long history of putting a difficult problem out of our sight. * Crickey.com.au *You almost feel you are taking that trek with the party as Robert Macklin cites the obstacles - torrential river crossings, dense bush, the Snowy Mountains and more * Sydney Morning Herald, Newcastle Herald, Burnie Advocate, Western Advocate, Northern Daily Leader, North West Star, Ballarat Courier, Daily Advertiser, Bendigo Advertiser, Launceston Examiner *https://startsat60.com/stories/entertain/books/is-hamilton-hume-australias-greatest-explorer * Starts at 60 *a fine biography, a fitting tribute * Golden Plains Miner *Review * Redland City Bulletin *This book, which is anything but a dry history, brings the first 80 years of this settlement alive * Good Reading *Review * Dubbo Photo News *

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Book SynopsisIn 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton set forth to make history with the first-ever crossing of the Antarctic continent. He sailed into the Weddell Sea aboard the Endurance, while a ship called the Aurora sailed into the Ross Sea to create a lifeline of vital food and fuel depots to supply the epic crossing. Yet all went tragically wrong.Trade Review'Nail-biting ... this previously forgotten part of the expedition at last achieves the recognition it deserves' History Today 'A gripping story embracing both tragedy and triumph and Tyler-Lewis tells it well' New York Times Book Review 'Compelling and compassionately written' The Times 'The Lost Men tells in absorbing detail the story of what happened when the plan's weaknesses were exposed' Magnus Mills, Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisIn 1943 Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet met to discuss the opening of a new front, fought not on the beaches of Normandy or in the jungles of Burma but amid the blizzards and glaciers of the Antarctic.

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Book SynopsisHenry Birdie' Bowers realised his life's ambition when he was selected for Captain Scott's Terra Nova expedition to the Antarctic, yet he also met his death on the journey. Born to a sea-faring father and adventurous mother on the Firth of Clyde, Bowers' boyhood obsession with travel and adventure took him round the world several times and his life appears, with hindsight, to have been a ceaseless preparation for his ultimate, Antarctic challenge. Although just 5ft 4in, he was a bundle of energy; knowledgeable, indefatigable and the ultimate team player. In Scott's words, he was a marvel'. This new biography, drawing on Bowers' letters, journals and previously neglected material, sheds new light on Bowers and tells the full story of the hardy naval officer who could always lift his companions' spirits.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of Indigenous people’s experiences travelling from Canada to Britain and beyond from the 1770s to 1914.Trade Review"Exceptionally well researched and very fluently written, Travellers through Empire will be an important contribution to the growing literature on Indigenous travellers outside the bounds of their traditional territories." Coll Thrush, University of British Columbia and author of Indigenous London: Native Travellers at the Heart of Empire

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for The Evolution of Charles Darwin:Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews (Nonfiction)“Fascinating . . . A beautifully told coming-of-age story focused on Darwin’s psychological transmutation from a diffident specimen collector expecting to become a country parson to a novice scientist climbing the career ladder in London’s private and prestigious clubs and societies . . . Offer[s] new and exciting ideas that will likely beat out the competition.”—Robert M. Thorson, Wall Street Journal “[Preston’s] books are always entertaining . . . This book fits that mould; it’s an adventure story . . . The author has chosen the perfect topic. It’s nearly impossible to write a dull book about Darwin . . . The real attraction of this book lies in the way it turns the development of evolutionary theory into a personal story.”—Gerald DeGroot, Times (UK) “[A] meticulously researched compelling narrative . . . Diana Preston’s vibrant reconstruction of Darwin’s extraordinary journey, world-changing work and the consequences he experienced makes it all accessible and new in her telling.”—Janet Somerville, Toronto Star“An exciting biography of the immortal naturalist’s legendary journey . . . It was well into the 20th century before essentially all scientists agreed that Darwin was on the right track. Since then, biographies have poured off the presses, but readers cannot go wrong with this expert account. An irresistible scientific biography and adventure story with a happy ending.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“While much has been written about Darwin’s revolutionary scientific achievements on this journey, historian Preston sheds light on the voyage itself, its captain and crew, and the Native populations they encountered.”—Booklist (starred review)“A brisk and accessible account of how Charles Darwin developed his theory of natural selection . . . A rewarding look at the development of an earth-shattering idea.”—Publishers Weekly“Darwin was only 22 when he boarded the HMS Beagle in 1830 under the command of Robert FitzRoy as a ‘gentleman naturalist,’ unaware his name would one day grace an award honouring humans who remove themselves from the gene pool through misadventure. Drawing on the naturalist’s diaries, Preston’s biography reveals a man who, in his chauvinism and blind patriotism, was typical of his time—but in his liberal- and abolition-mindedness, atypical as well.”—Globe and MailPraise for Eight Days at Yalta:“A colorful chronicle of high-stakes negotiations and a study in human frailties, missteps, and ideological blunders.”—Washington Post“Ms. Preston’s conference narrative abjures authorial hindsight judgments, placing the spotlight instead on the characters’ natural blind spots and biases. She also devotes a full third of the book to the summit’s historical context and personalities, the latter of which are nicely developed.”—Wall Street Journal“A highly readable, highly detailed account of the historic meetings and often difficult and contentious negotiations between Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, and their staffs, and a vivid description of the once ornate Tsarist palaces and their much deteriorated wartime condition that served as the setting for meetings, dinners, and private talks.”—New York Journal of Books“Lively and nuanced . . . Shrewd on the main personalities . . . Preston goes beyond the horse-trading of three old men, with vivid scene-setting of the tsarist palaces where the conference took place.”—Times (UK)“In this well-written and absorbing book, Diana Preston provides a chronological narrative of these crucial eight days.”—Airmail“On the Yalta conference’s 75th anniversary, this insightful history recounts its enormous, if teeth-gnashing, accomplishments . . . Impressively researched . . . An expert account of an unedifying milestone at the dawn of the Cold War.”—Kirkus Reviews“[A] spirited, behind-the-scenes account of the February 1945 Yalta Conference. Preston mixes foreign policy critique . . . with vibrant descriptions of backstage activities . . . Colorful personalities, piquant details, and a diverse array of perspectives make this a satisfying introduction to the subject.”—Publishers WeeklyPraise for Diana Preston:“A treasure map of a book.”—San Diego Union-Tribune, on A Pirate of Exquisite Mind“A superbly rendered popular history.”—Booklist (starred review), on A Pirate of Exquisite Mind“Unforgettable . . . The definitive account of the Lusitania.”—Philadelphia Inquirer, on Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy“As majestic as its subject . . . Extraordinarily readable.”—Chicago Sun-Times, on Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy“An engaging narrative . . . Rich in detail and texture.”—San Diego Union Tribune, on Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima“Ultimately this book is about survival, and the author engagingly recounts the nearly impossible task of trying to establish a penal colony with few supplies and poor agricultural conditions. Preston shines in her description of the true nature of Captain Bligh . . . A wonderful look into the beginnings of Australia and the remarkable strength of the survivors of these dangerous voyages.”—Kirkus Reviews, on Paradise in Chains

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for The Evolution of Charles Darwin:Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews (Nonfiction)“Fascinating . . . A beautifully told coming-of-age story focused on Darwin’s psychological transmutation from a diffident specimen collector expecting to become a country parson to a novice scientist climbing the career ladder in London’s private and prestigious clubs and societies . . . Offer[s] new and exciting ideas that will likely beat out the competition.”—Robert M. Thorson, Wall Street Journal “[Preston’s] books are always entertaining . . . This book fits that mould; it’s an adventure story . . . The author has chosen the perfect topic. It’s nearly impossible to write a dull book about Darwin . . . The real attraction of this book lies in the way it turns the development of evolutionary theory into a personal story.”—Gerald DeGroot, Times (UK) “[A] meticulously researched compelling narrative . . . Diana Preston’s vibrant reconstruction of Darwin’s extraordinary journey, world-changing work and the consequences he experienced makes it all accessible and new in her telling.”—Janet Somerville, Toronto Star“An exciting biography of the immortal naturalist’s legendary journey . . . It was well into the 20th century before essentially all scientists agreed that Darwin was on the right track. Since then, biographies have poured off the presses, but readers cannot go wrong with this expert account. An irresistible scientific biography and adventure story with a happy ending.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“While much has been written about Darwin’s revolutionary scientific achievements on this journey, historian Preston sheds light on the voyage itself, its captain and crew, and the Native populations they encountered.”—Booklist (starred review)“A brisk and accessible account of how Charles Darwin developed his theory of natural selection . . . A rewarding look at the development of an earth-shattering idea.”—Publishers Weekly“Darwin was only 22 when he boarded the HMS Beagle in 1830 under the command of Robert FitzRoy as a ‘gentleman naturalist,’ unaware his name would one day grace an award honouring humans who remove themselves from the gene pool through misadventure. Drawing on the naturalist’s diaries, Preston’s biography reveals a man who, in his chauvinism and blind patriotism, was typical of his time—but in his liberal- and abolition-mindedness, atypical as well.”—Globe and MailPraise for Eight Days at Yalta:“A colorful chronicle of high-stakes negotiations and a study in human frailties, missteps, and ideological blunders.”—Washington Post“Ms. Preston’s conference narrative abjures authorial hindsight judgments, placing the spotlight instead on the characters’ natural blind spots and biases. She also devotes a full third of the book to the summit’s historical context and personalities, the latter of which are nicely developed.”—Wall Street Journal“A highly readable, highly detailed account of the historic meetings and often difficult and contentious negotiations between Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, and their staffs, and a vivid description of the once ornate Tsarist palaces and their much deteriorated wartime condition that served as the setting for meetings, dinners, and private talks.”—New York Journal of Books“Lively and nuanced . . . Shrewd on the main personalities . . . Preston goes beyond the horse-trading of three old men, with vivid scene-setting of the tsarist palaces where the conference took place.”—Times (UK)“In this well-written and absorbing book, Diana Preston provides a chronological narrative of these crucial eight days.”—Airmail“On the Yalta conference’s 75th anniversary, this insightful history recounts its enormous, if teeth-gnashing, accomplishments . . . Impressively researched . . . An expert account of an unedifying milestone at the dawn of the Cold War.”—Kirkus Reviews“[A] spirited, behind-the-scenes account of the February 1945 Yalta Conference. Preston mixes foreign policy critique . . . with vibrant descriptions of backstage activities . . . Colorful personalities, piquant details, and a diverse array of perspectives make this a satisfying introduction to the subject.”—Publishers WeeklyPraise for Diana Preston:“A treasure map of a book.”—San Diego Union-Tribune, on A Pirate of Exquisite Mind“A superbly rendered popular history.”—Booklist (starred review), on A Pirate of Exquisite Mind“Unforgettable . . . The definitive account of the Lusitania.”—Philadelphia Inquirer, on Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy“As majestic as its subject . . . Extraordinarily readable.”—Chicago Sun-Times, on Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy“An engaging narrative . . . Rich in detail and texture.”—San Diego Union Tribune, on Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima“Ultimately this book is about survival, and the author engagingly recounts the nearly impossible task of trying to establish a penal colony with few supplies and poor agricultural conditions. Preston shines in her description of the true nature of Captain Bligh . . . A wonderful look into the beginnings of Australia and the remarkable strength of the survivors of these dangerous voyages.”—Kirkus Reviews, on Paradise in Chains

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Book SynopsisA collection of Sir Wally's paintings, together with personal anecdotes of his experiences in the Polar World and his connection with the polar pioneers of the past, as well as his descriptions of the inspiration behind his paintings.Trade Review"'Profoundly evocative... a uniquely insightful book.' H.R.H. Prince Charles 'A vastly important book about these extraordinary regions of the world. The Polar World stands as a magnificent epitaph to a genuine explorer and great man of the modern age.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes"

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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 SynopsisIn the years leading up to Charles Darwin's 1832â6 voyage on the Beagle, the ship and its captain Robert Fitzroy (1805â65) had participated in an expedition to the desolate southern coast of South America. This three-volume work, published in 1839, describes both voyages. Volumes 1 and 2, compiled by Fitzroy, contain accounts by professional mariners. Volume 3 is the first published version of the young Darwin's now famous journal. It later appeared as a free-standing publication (1840) and in a more popular second edition (1845), both reissued in this series. Darwin's preface refers to the detailed scientific publications resulting from his research: the geological studies of volcanic islands and coral reefs (also available in the Cambridge Library Collection), and the co-authored, multi-volume zoology. Darwin expresses thanks to Fitzroy for his 'most cordial friendship', to the ship's officers for their 'undeviating kindness', and particularly to his Cambridge mentor John Stevens HenTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Porto Praya; 2. Rio de Janeiro, excursion north of Cape Frio; 3. Monte Video, excursion to R. Polanco; 4. Rio Negro; 5. Bahía Blanca; 6. Set out for Buenos Ayres; 7. Excursion to St. Fe; 8. Monte Video, excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento; 9. Rio Plata; 10. Santa Cruz, expedition up river; 11. Tierra del Fuego; 12. Falkland Islands; 13. Strait of Magellan; 14. Valparaiso, excursion to base of Andes; 15. Chiloe; 16. San Carlos, Chiloe; 17. Valparaiso, passage of Andes by Portillo pass; 18. Bell mountain, excursion to Cordillera; 19. Galapagos Islands volcanic; 20. Tahiti, New Zealand; 21. Sydney, Van Diemen's Land; 22. Keeling Island; 23. Mauritius, Brazil, Azores; Addenda; Index.

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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 recent discovery and filming of Frankin's HMS 'Terror' has brought the tragic story of the expedition into the international spotlight. The only man who knows the true narrative is Ernest Coleman.

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Book SynopsisNew in paperback - The recent discovery and filming of Franklin's HMS 'Terror' has brought the tragic story of the expedition into the international spotlight. The only man who knows the true narrative is Ernest Coleman.Trade Review‘An extraordinary story of determination… highly recommended’ -- Sea Breezes

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Book SynopsisIt was in large part the lure of riches, such as spices and gold, and the promise of fertile land which tempted the British and other Europeans to venture out to unknown lands.These intrepid explorers, who devoted and often lost their lives on journeys of discovery, were frequently accompanied by artists. At the time there was no other way of pictorially recording their exploits and experiences.James Cook and his botanist Joseph Banks had artists Alexander Buchan and Sydney Parkinson on board for their initial voyage to the South Seas. Buchan's first pictures were of the natives of Tierra del Fuego as the Endeavour rounded Cape Horn but tragically within a month he died, apparently of epilepsy. Thomas Baines travelled with Livingstone while Charles Heaphy in New Zealand and the Governor''s wife in India were amongst many others who produced drawings and paintings.The many fine works in this book fashioned the British public''s image of their countrymen's discoveries and, later, of the

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWilson is a passionate guide who brings readers on an encyclopedic journey through the cult of cider and its resident obsessives. From unraveling the history of the apple to exploring the intricacies of flavor, THE CIDER REVIVAL reveals the love and labor that goes into a timeless beverage that's full of surprises. -- Bianca Bosker * author of Cork Dork *“Cider is America’s great forgotten beverage. Jason Wilson’s lively, anecdote-filled, passionate paean to what he says should properly be considered ‘apple win’ will go a long way toward giving this immensely varied and complex libation the recognition and appreciation it deserves.” -- Colman Andrews * cofounder of Saveur and author of The British Table *

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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 SynopsisThe definitive account of Sir Vivian Fuchs and Sir Edmund Hillary's Trans-Antarctic Expedition, completed 60 years ago this year.

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