The Last VikingThe Last Viking
the Life of Roald Amundsen
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Book, 2012
Current format, Book, 2012, , Available .Book, 2012
Current format, Book, 2012, , Available . Offered in 0 more formatsLooks at the life of the Norwegian polar explorer, describing Amundsen's approach to expeditions and his flair for self-promotion and publicity.
This biography of larger-than-life Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen is geared toward general readers. Author Bown, who has written other books on exploration and science for general readers, describes Amundsen's approach to expeditions as military operations and portrays his gift for flamboyant self-promotion and publicity seeking on the lecture circuit. The book is illustrated with many b&w historical photos and a few b&w maps. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The first full-scale biography of the greatest of all polar explorers and a conqueror of the Northwest Passage as well
The Last Viking unravels the life of the man who stands head and shoulders above all those who raced to map the last corners of the world. In 1900, the four great geographical mysteries—the Northwest Passage, the Northeast Passage, the South Pole, and the North Pole—remained blank spots on the globe. Within twenty years Roald Amundsen would claim all four prizes. Renowned for his determination and technical skills, both feared and beloved by his men, Amundsen is a legend of the heroic age of exploration, which shortly thereafter would be tamed by technology, commerce, and publicity. Féted in his lifetime as an international celebrity, pursued by women and creditors, he died in the Arctic on a rescue mission for an inept rival explorer.
Stephen R. Bown has unearthed archival material to give Amundsen’s life the grim immediacy of Apsley Cherry-Garrard’sThe Worst Journey in the World, the exciting detail of The Endurance, and the suspense of a Jon Krakauer tale.The Last Viking is both a thrilling literary biography and a cracking good story.
This biography of larger-than-life Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen is geared toward general readers. Author Bown, who has written other books on exploration and science for general readers, describes Amundsen's approach to expeditions as military operations and portrays his gift for flamboyant self-promotion and publicity seeking on the lecture circuit. The book is illustrated with many b&w historical photos and a few b&w maps. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The first full-scale biography of the greatest of all polar explorers and a conqueror of the Northwest Passage as well
The Last Viking unravels the life of the man who stands head and shoulders above all those who raced to map the last corners of the world. In 1900, the four great geographical mysteries—the Northwest Passage, the Northeast Passage, the South Pole, and the North Pole—remained blank spots on the globe. Within twenty years Roald Amundsen would claim all four prizes. Renowned for his determination and technical skills, both feared and beloved by his men, Amundsen is a legend of the heroic age of exploration, which shortly thereafter would be tamed by technology, commerce, and publicity. Féted in his lifetime as an international celebrity, pursued by women and creditors, he died in the Arctic on a rescue mission for an inept rival explorer.
Stephen R. Bown has unearthed archival material to give Amundsen’s life the grim immediacy of Apsley Cherry-Garrard’sThe Worst Journey in the World, the exciting detail of The Endurance, and the suspense of a Jon Krakauer tale.The Last Viking is both a thrilling literary biography and a cracking good story.
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- Cambridge : Da Capo Press, c2012.
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