Polar Exploration: The Heroic Exploits of the World's Greatest Polar Explorers (Y) Hardcover – October 5, 2010

I buy a LOT of nonfiction books about Arctic and Antarctic exploration. This is the best of any of them. The only bad thing I can say about the book is that my eyes are too old to fully appreciate the several enclosed maps of the Arctic, the Northwest Territory, the Antarctic and other maps. I appreciate that to conserve paper and keep the expense of the book reasonable, these maps cannot be a large as I would like. What a shame.

This book is a kind of movable exhibition for polar exploration. In each single page, side by side with the main content, you will find a combination of photos, illustrations, sketches, maps, facsimiles, ..etc!. All of that were combined together to express explorers’ portraits, biographies, diaries, letters, expeditions’ routes, fields work, invoices, artifacts, technology, tools and more.The book consists of 27 parts ordered chronically and spans more than 100 years of polar exploration from 1818 to 1929. Each chapter covers major expedition or achievement within two pages: from searching for the Northwest Passage to conquer the Northeast Passage, and from the death and hunger on the ice to Nansen Arctic achievements, and from the Balloon attempt toward the North Pole to the age of flight,..etc. On the Antarctica part, the book covers major explorations from Belgica expedition to first wintering on the continent, and from Shackleton and Scott’s expeditions to Amundsen conquers the pole, ..etc.This is enjoyable-for-reading book is recommended for public who interested in the history of polar exploration. Nevertheless it is not suitable for academic research, you will find a lot of interesting stories, information, people, and beautiful maps. The most noticeable and interesting part is the facsimiles attached between the papers and reflect a set of selected historical records such as: a plan of the famous Fram ship, an extract from Amundsen’s diary for the day he reached the South Pole, and Scott’s famous diary entry describing Captain Oates heading to his death.

FASCINATING, AMAZING, WELL-DESIGNED, AND CAREFUULLY PROPDUUCED TREASUURE. Do NOT make the mistake of thinking this is a "children's book" it is filled with "grown-up" insights, and historical research! AND ... kids will love it ... if the can pry it from mom & pop's mits.

Great item