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The Last Explorer: Hubert Wilkins, Hero of the Great Age of Polar Exploration (Hardback) - Common
If greatness is measured in square miles, Hubert Wilkins was without question the most successful explorer in history, for no one has seen with his own eyes more undiscovered land and sea. Largely self-taught, this farm boy from the Australian outback became a celebrated newsreel cameraman, reporter, pilot, spy, war hero, scientist, and adventurer. Repeatedly cheating death, he captured in his lens war, famine, and derring-do, met world leaders like Lenin, Mussolini, and King George V of England, and circled the globe on a zeppelin. Early on, Wilkins recognized the importance of new technologies such as the airplane, submarine, and motion picture camera in exploring uncharted worlds. He helped map the Canadian Arctic and plumbed the ocean depths from the ice cap. He became the first person to fly across the Arctic from America to Europe, a feat the New York Times called "the greatest flight in history," which earned him a knighthood, a ticker-tape parade in New York City, and many other honors.
He was also the first to fly in the Antarctic and to discover land by airplane, and the first to take a submarine under the Arctic ice. He disproved the ancient myth of a hidden continent in the north. A visionary who, almost a century ago, grasped the link between the poles and changing global weather, Wilkins was a pioneer in weather forecasting and the study of global warming." But the most amazing aspect of this life of unrelenting adventure is how decent and humble Wilkins was as a man.
Unswayed by glory, he eschewed publicity and shied from public acclaim. Simon Nasht's discovery of Wilkins' treasure trove of journals, records, and photographs has enabled him to bring to the world's attention this remarkable explorer's many extraordinary achievements.
He was also the first to fly in the Antarctic and to discover land by airplane, and the first to take a submarine under the Arctic ice. He disproved the ancient myth of a hidden continent in the north. A visionary who, almost a century ago, grasped the link between the poles and changing global weather, Wilkins was a pioneer in weather forecasting and the study of global warming." But the most amazing aspect of this life of unrelenting adventure is how decent and humble Wilkins was as a man.
Unswayed by glory, he eschewed publicity and shied from public acclaim. Simon Nasht's discovery of Wilkins' treasure trove of journals, records, and photographs has enabled him to bring to the world's attention this remarkable explorer's many extraordinary achievements.
346 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
72 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Simon Nasht
5 books2 followersSimon Nasht is one of Australia’s most experienced history documentary filmmakers. He is a former political reporter and foreign correspondent for The Age and the ABC.
He is a regular contributor to ABC Radio National, The Australian, Sunday Age and other newspapers.
Currently, he is a producer at Real Pictures, and previously co-producer at Essential Media, partner at Gabriel Films New York and joint MD at Pilot Productions.
He is a regular contributor to ABC Radio National, The Australian, Sunday Age and other newspapers.
Currently, he is a producer at Real Pictures, and previously co-producer at Essential Media, partner at Gabriel Films New York and joint MD at Pilot Productions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 20, 2017
Read for the book club.
I'm not very interested in stories of explorers as a genre, but this was an interesting story of a man who was obsessed with understanding the weather, and went to extraordinary lengths in pursuit of his dream.
Well written, sometimes dry as Nash's ploughing his way through the sources, but a story that needs to be told.
We all hoped that Wilkins would be better recognized for his achievements.
I'm not very interested in stories of explorers as a genre, but this was an interesting story of a man who was obsessed with understanding the weather, and went to extraordinary lengths in pursuit of his dream.
Well written, sometimes dry as Nash's ploughing his way through the sources, but a story that needs to be told.
We all hoped that Wilkins would be better recognized for his achievements.
October 17, 2010
Fascinating look at one of history's most daring, courageous men - a man that the world has seemed to have forgotten over the years. I have never read or heard about a true story where the person encountered so many near-death experiences. From WWI to flying and crashing the first planes MULTIPLE times, to running out of gas while in the air over nothing but the Arctic Ocean, to being in a submarine deep in polar waters when all steering and diving controls are gone, to being shot at in a firing squad, Sir Hubert Wilkins has more chutzpah in his left toe (frostbitten left toe) than most people have in their entire bodies.
Great read. Took a while to get into, but once I did, I'm glad I got to knew this man.
Great read. Took a while to get into, but once I did, I'm glad I got to knew this man.
October 6, 2017
Not a great book but not a bad one either. Great for history buffs.
April 26, 2024
What a crazy yet humble life Hubert Wilkins lived. I don’t believe anyone who’s ever lived survived as many scrapes as he did. Earlier in the twentieth century he was world renowned. Now no one has hardly heard of him. This should be corrected. The Last Explorer is a great read.
August 13, 2011
Much like Gavin Menzies' 1421, I read the notes of The Last Explorer with relish. This book opens up the era of great exploration and its relationship to scientific study and the press in a refreshing way. Wilkins criticism of his native Australian government policy, but not its people, and his insights into war, weather and international cooperation are in themselves gifts to readers from down under and well beyond. We can still learn so much from this unsung hero and remarkable explorer. A true leader, without all the hub-bub. An inspiring must-read!
July 25, 2012
“True Adventure Thrills” Indeed!
Ever a fan of arctic and polar exploration, the first chapters of this book, while captivating, had me wondering when we’d get to the “good stuff”. Of course, the descriptions of Wilkins’ work as a war photographer were harrowing stories of the unique ability the man in escaping danger and staying alive.
But then we get to “Ultima Thule”, and my eyes rarely strayed from the pages of this book, which translated into one long sleepless night! Nasht skillfully describes Wilkins and Eielson’s survival in the arctic, fashioning sleds from parts of their shattered plane. Where most explorers would have called it day, Wilkins returned back to the arctic in a plane, being the first to cross the wide ocean in a plane. What is amazing is that they went 2,200 miles and crossed ten time zones!
Wilkins had also crossed paths with many more well-known explorers: Byrd, Amundsen, Shackelton, Stefansson. In so doing, we get a glimpse as the age of explorers slowly faded away, as more and more of the map was filled in. But in his explorations, Wilkins also opened the door to deep-sea exploration, and the study of weather (especially how the poles affect global climate). His forays into ESP is pure bunk and a waste of ink in my opinion.
This book did drag from time to time, as mentioned above. But yet I wanted to read more, to discover what the man would do next, and to read with a smile how he was finally delivered posthumously to his ultimate goal, the north pole.
Terrific book, highly recommended for fans of arctic exploration and survival.
Ever a fan of arctic and polar exploration, the first chapters of this book, while captivating, had me wondering when we’d get to the “good stuff”. Of course, the descriptions of Wilkins’ work as a war photographer were harrowing stories of the unique ability the man in escaping danger and staying alive.
But then we get to “Ultima Thule”, and my eyes rarely strayed from the pages of this book, which translated into one long sleepless night! Nasht skillfully describes Wilkins and Eielson’s survival in the arctic, fashioning sleds from parts of their shattered plane. Where most explorers would have called it day, Wilkins returned back to the arctic in a plane, being the first to cross the wide ocean in a plane. What is amazing is that they went 2,200 miles and crossed ten time zones!
Wilkins had also crossed paths with many more well-known explorers: Byrd, Amundsen, Shackelton, Stefansson. In so doing, we get a glimpse as the age of explorers slowly faded away, as more and more of the map was filled in. But in his explorations, Wilkins also opened the door to deep-sea exploration, and the study of weather (especially how the poles affect global climate). His forays into ESP is pure bunk and a waste of ink in my opinion.
This book did drag from time to time, as mentioned above. But yet I wanted to read more, to discover what the man would do next, and to read with a smile how he was finally delivered posthumously to his ultimate goal, the north pole.
Terrific book, highly recommended for fans of arctic exploration and survival.
July 15, 2012
Very surprised and delighted by this book. The style is a bit breathy, but effective. I agree with Nasht that: "It was Wilkins' restless inquisitiveness about the weather that set him apart." His incredible exploration adventures were unknown to me. But, "it was a goal far more ambitious than the mere attainment of some meaningless geographic spot and it made him a very different to the better-know explorers.
One of the tributes to him states: "He was a great man, and quite unlike so many polar explorers whose pricipal motivation seems to be a craving for publicity rather than solid, scientific achievement. Sir Hubert (Wilkins) was a charming, modest, brilliant and highly skilled explorer whose mark on polar history, at both ends of the world, will always be a deep one." NY Times science writer Walter Sullivan.
This biography captures all of that and more of Wilkins' contributions. For me it was a real find.
One of the tributes to him states: "He was a great man, and quite unlike so many polar explorers whose pricipal motivation seems to be a craving for publicity rather than solid, scientific achievement. Sir Hubert (Wilkins) was a charming, modest, brilliant and highly skilled explorer whose mark on polar history, at both ends of the world, will always be a deep one." NY Times science writer Walter Sullivan.
This biography captures all of that and more of Wilkins' contributions. For me it was a real find.
July 2, 2014
Having recently read several biographical and autobiographical accounts of Robert Byrd, it was surprising to discover that Hubert Wilkins was a far more satisfying and accomplished hero who for whatever reason time has nearly forgotten. This exhaustive account of his life was jam packed with detail, and Wilkins lived to a ripe old age, a rarity among polar explorers of this time period, so it became a very long book and a bit tedious.
However, I am interested in meteorology and tales of true adventure so I read on to the bitter end. Wilkins was a good and honest man who risked his life over and over for the good of mankind, as he saw it. His character and place in history deserve star treatment, albeit with some editing of minutia.
However, I am interested in meteorology and tales of true adventure so I read on to the bitter end. Wilkins was a good and honest man who risked his life over and over for the good of mankind, as he saw it. His character and place in history deserve star treatment, albeit with some editing of minutia.
December 30, 2018
I was fascinated by the first half of the book.
The austere and hard life of his south Australian childhood,
then on to his life in the first world war as a war photographer.
This was a man of many talents.
Music , photography, meteorology, exploration to name a few.
The author is meticulous, but it is a dense read which has a tendency to wear out the reader.
I keep coming back to his ultimate demise in a rudderless submarine under a mountains of ice.
We are told he insisted the submarine mission continue despite the dire conditions.
What a horrible way to die.
Perhaps that goes to why his legacy has been so diminished.
The austere and hard life of his south Australian childhood,
then on to his life in the first world war as a war photographer.
This was a man of many talents.
Music , photography, meteorology, exploration to name a few.
The author is meticulous, but it is a dense read which has a tendency to wear out the reader.
I keep coming back to his ultimate demise in a rudderless submarine under a mountains of ice.
We are told he insisted the submarine mission continue despite the dire conditions.
What a horrible way to die.
Perhaps that goes to why his legacy has been so diminished.
June 1, 2012
Interesting account of the life of an amazingly courageous man, driven by his desire to set up meteorological stations to inform scientists about the causes of extreme weather conditions. In this quest, he ends up becoming a major explorer of both poles, including flying across both poles in the late 1920's and making a submarine voyage in the arctic in 1931 - risking his life as he attempted to use emerging technology for scientific gain.
May 27, 2012
Riveting history, through biography, of the 20th century: new insights, seemingly well researched. Well written: it flows. I really liked this book.
January 7, 2018
Excellent, extensively researched biography of a forgotten great--Wilkins was a visionary and a total badass! If you have an interest in the history of exploration, especially in the polar regions, this is your guy. If you have an interest in war photography, climate studies, submarines, or aviation, he's also your guy. And if you have an interest in weird religions and ESP? Guess what! Totally your guy as well!
This book is super interesting, covering all 1,000 (approximate) of Wilkins's narrow escapes from death and expeditions taken and obsessions obsessed over decades too soon. Excessively modest, scientifically minded, and somehow able to make a 29-year marriage work without both parties being in the same place for more than two months at a time for most of it, I just find him very, very fascinating. In the super dorky shrine to polar explorers that exists only in my head (for now!), his portrait is going up right there alongside the big names.
Highly recommended for polar exploration/aviation nerds like myself!
This book is super interesting, covering all 1,000 (approximate) of Wilkins's narrow escapes from death and expeditions taken and obsessions obsessed over decades too soon. Excessively modest, scientifically minded, and somehow able to make a 29-year marriage work without both parties being in the same place for more than two months at a time for most of it, I just find him very, very fascinating. In the super dorky shrine to polar explorers that exists only in my head (for now!), his portrait is going up right there alongside the big names.
Highly recommended for polar exploration/aviation nerds like myself!
July 25, 2017
Sir Hubert "Wilkins had made thirty-three expeditions in polar regions and explored every continent. He had sledged and flown, sailed and walked across more unknown land than any man in history." An amazing life of exploration, sad that history seems to have forgotten Wilkins. The story is fairly well told, although plodded along in mostly chronological order. Wilkins lived from 1888 to 1958. I would have like more details of what was going on in the world during Wilkins' explorations and the writing style was fairly mundane.
December 29, 2017
Sir Hubert Wilkins was quite simply amazing. Maybe foolhardy, but more likely talented, brilliant, and courageous. His focus on exploration to advance mankind over thrill or glory seeking was admirable. His bravery in World War I, his flights in planes and blimps, his trekking across both poles and more importantly his flights over and submarine trips under them, as well as many side trips crossing the globe are the stuff of legend. How this man is not a household name is hard to fathom. This man's life is better than any action story.
August 20, 2025
Quite surprised at some of the reviews .
I found the last explorer fascinating .
Best way to describe (George) Hubert Wilkins is every verse in Rudyard Kipling “If” applies.
If your into great interesting lives , the people that squeezed every drop of life , then Simon Nasht found you someone .
I found the last explorer fascinating .
Best way to describe (George) Hubert Wilkins is every verse in Rudyard Kipling “If” applies.
If your into great interesting lives , the people that squeezed every drop of life , then Simon Nasht found you someone .
May 22, 2018
One of the worst written books I've read, such an interesting man , excuse the pun but not explored at all. I needed to know what drives a man to the things he did. It isn't bravery , to brave you need fear , he seemed from this book to be psychopathic .
December 30, 2019
a really good story about an amazing man in early Australian times. Could not believe how perceptive he was, as well as all those adventures, no wonder he inspired the cave divers who rescued the Thai cave boys!
June 2, 2022
It is a shame that Hubert Wilkins had not been given his rightful place in Australian history. His exploits are astounding, and his humility, generosity and daring are inspirational. This story should be compulsory reading in Australian schools.
February 4, 2023
An extraordinary tale of an extraordinary man. Nasht retells Sir Hubert’s life in a way which can only make one marvel at the man’s achievements.
Although usually engaging there are some small elements of the book that seem to drag longer than necessary.
Although usually engaging there are some small elements of the book that seem to drag longer than necessary.
April 18, 2023
How could I not know about Sir Hubert Wilkins? One of the greatest explorers of the 20th century, yet virtually unknown in the state and country of his birth. An absolute page turner book with astonishing new adventures every page.
June 18, 2023
An absolutely fascinating story about a man most have never heard of. One of the earliest cameramen in the movie industry, he goes on to become a photographer on the front lines of WW 1, an accomplished pilot, spy, and explorer. Gets my vote for the World's Most Interesting Man. Highly recommend.
December 4, 2017
B+. Never heard of Hubert Wilkins...I am glad to have read his story.
March 2, 2019
Too fantastic to be fiction
September 7, 2019
What an explorer! He was such a dreamer and did incredible things. I had never heard of him.
March 2, 2023
Amazing story. Would need a whole mini series to tell his life and then people would think it must be fiction.
August 28, 2023
The mostly incredible (but documented so true) tale of a war photographer, pilot, meteorologist, explorer, mechanic, and spy. I've probably left something out.
September 18, 2023
Surprises at every page. How had I never heard of an explorer and pioneer who should be in Australia's pantheon? Extraordinary story.
May 31, 2018
It’s a PITY
It’s a pity, this was a great book but unfortunately author had to insert his own bias on climate change and other issues into the narrative. It would have been much better if he had let the facts speak for themselves.
It’s a pity, this was a great book but unfortunately author had to insert his own bias on climate change and other issues into the narrative. It would have been much better if he had let the facts speak for themselves.
December 2, 2023
Alex & I read this together. Enjoyed first half of the book, more than the ending. Such am amazing true story! The variety of things he survived and achieved in his life was amazing! Why don't we hear more about this man??? Why is he hardly known?
May 31, 2024
Hubert was undoubtedly an amazing man, but the writing was somewhat dry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews