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Nansen: The Explorer as Hero
Behind the great polar explorers of the early twentieth century - Amundsen, Shackleton, Scott in the South and Peary in the North - looms the spirit of Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930), the mentor of them all. He was the father of modern polar exploration, the last act of territorial discovery before the leap into space began.
Nansen was a prime illustration of Carlyle's dictum that 'the history of the world is but the biography of great men'. He was not merely a pioneer in the wildly diverse fields of oceanography and skiing, but one of the founders of neurology. A restless, unquiet Faustian spirit, Nansen was a Renaissance Man born out of his time into the new Norway of Ibsen and Grieg. He was an artist and historian, a diplomat who had dealings with Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin, and played a part in the Versailles Peace Conference, where he helped the Americans in their efforts to contain the Bolsheviks. He also undertook famine relief in Russia. Finally, working for the League of Nations as both High Commissioner for Refugees and High Commissioner for the Repatriation of Prisoners of War, he became the first of the modern media-conscious international civil servants.
Nansen was a prime illustration of Carlyle's dictum that 'the history of the world is but the biography of great men'. He was not merely a pioneer in the wildly diverse fields of oceanography and skiing, but one of the founders of neurology. A restless, unquiet Faustian spirit, Nansen was a Renaissance Man born out of his time into the new Norway of Ibsen and Grieg. He was an artist and historian, a diplomat who had dealings with Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin, and played a part in the Versailles Peace Conference, where he helped the Americans in their efforts to contain the Bolsheviks. He also undertook famine relief in Russia. Finally, working for the League of Nations as both High Commissioner for Refugees and High Commissioner for the Repatriation of Prisoners of War, he became the first of the modern media-conscious international civil servants.
767 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 1997
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About the author
Roland Huntford
23 books28 followersRoland Huntford (né Horwitch) is an author, principally of biographies of Polar explorers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 14, 2022
I bought this book after visiting the Fram museum in Oslo. The museum is great, the whole story of Fram is so exciting, and also generally the whole race to explore the poles is fascinating. I bought the book to know more about it, and personally really enjoyed it… until the last 4 or 5 chapters where it got a bit too deep into Nansen’s diplomat activities.
I really appreciated how Nansen’s character is exposed through his diaries and correspondence, and also the sometimes funny contrast between his own perception of self and the very different perception that his expedition companions had of his personality.
The whole exploration of the poles in hindsight is such a crazy and challenging endeavour, and reading about it also puts it more into perspective, from being just the idealised (for me) saga of ‘scientists and heroes on an adventure’ to being perhaps about some vain, reckless men trying to achieve ‘something’, followed by other men, sometimes more noble, sometimes more desperate… where perhaps the biggest challenge is not just the cold, but the very isolation from the world.
There is an interesting sentence somewhere in the book, about those men on Fram being more cut out of the world than current astronauts on the moon. Even just that aspect is extremely fascinating.
All in all, really engaging book, well written, and covering a fascinating character and time in our history. Really recommended for anyone interested in the history of past explorers!
I really appreciated how Nansen’s character is exposed through his diaries and correspondence, and also the sometimes funny contrast between his own perception of self and the very different perception that his expedition companions had of his personality.
The whole exploration of the poles in hindsight is such a crazy and challenging endeavour, and reading about it also puts it more into perspective, from being just the idealised (for me) saga of ‘scientists and heroes on an adventure’ to being perhaps about some vain, reckless men trying to achieve ‘something’, followed by other men, sometimes more noble, sometimes more desperate… where perhaps the biggest challenge is not just the cold, but the very isolation from the world.
There is an interesting sentence somewhere in the book, about those men on Fram being more cut out of the world than current astronauts on the moon. Even just that aspect is extremely fascinating.
All in all, really engaging book, well written, and covering a fascinating character and time in our history. Really recommended for anyone interested in the history of past explorers!
October 8, 2021
This was a comprehensive look into the life and legacy of Fridtjof Nansen.
I already knew the basics, I've visited the Fram museum a couple of times and really enjoyed what I learned there, this book expended that knowledge and dived into other parts of Nansen's life that I wasn't so aware of.
It seemed throughout this book in Nansen's own words taken from the extensive diaries and letters he wrote, he saw science as his main passion, constantly going back to his work throughout his life. Maybe slightly disappointingly for him then, this was the part o his life I knew the least about. It was surprising for me to learn about how important he was in science as well as polar exploration and humanitarianism. Often overlooked, he was one of the first scientists to hypothesise that nerve cells are separate cells that touch rather than connected tubes.
Onto the exploration - it was fascinating to read about the journey taking place, see into the life and mind of an explorer. This was my favourite section because I love reading about polar journeys, on the flip side the part that least interested me (though still somewhat enjoyable) was the last section to do with Nansen's time as a humanitarian helping those starving in Russia and creating the 'Nansen passport' for stateless Europeans. Again, I wasn't aware of the former - his work with the Red Cross to help feed Russians on the brink of starvation - but because I'm not well versed on European politics of the 20's, this section did go a little bit over my head, especially with all the names thrown out that we're meant to know because 'very important figure of the time'.
I really appreciated that Huntford didn't hold back in showing Nansen's faults as well as his accomplishments. He did so much great work in his time, was a real pioneer in several different fields and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, but he was also an unfaithful husband, an overbearingly strict father and an unlikable leader on the Fram.
Nansen was alive quite a while ago (and this book was written in '97) so there is some bigotry aimed at Sami people towards the beginning of the book when travelling over Greenland. He even at one point says 'well, they call themselves Sami' while continuingly to call them 'lapps', and the author also calls the two Sami travelling with Nansen 'the lapps' too.
I already knew the basics, I've visited the Fram museum a couple of times and really enjoyed what I learned there, this book expended that knowledge and dived into other parts of Nansen's life that I wasn't so aware of.
It seemed throughout this book in Nansen's own words taken from the extensive diaries and letters he wrote, he saw science as his main passion, constantly going back to his work throughout his life. Maybe slightly disappointingly for him then, this was the part o his life I knew the least about. It was surprising for me to learn about how important he was in science as well as polar exploration and humanitarianism. Often overlooked, he was one of the first scientists to hypothesise that nerve cells are separate cells that touch rather than connected tubes.
Onto the exploration - it was fascinating to read about the journey taking place, see into the life and mind of an explorer. This was my favourite section because I love reading about polar journeys, on the flip side the part that least interested me (though still somewhat enjoyable) was the last section to do with Nansen's time as a humanitarian helping those starving in Russia and creating the 'Nansen passport' for stateless Europeans. Again, I wasn't aware of the former - his work with the Red Cross to help feed Russians on the brink of starvation - but because I'm not well versed on European politics of the 20's, this section did go a little bit over my head, especially with all the names thrown out that we're meant to know because 'very important figure of the time'.
I really appreciated that Huntford didn't hold back in showing Nansen's faults as well as his accomplishments. He did so much great work in his time, was a real pioneer in several different fields and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, but he was also an unfaithful husband, an overbearingly strict father and an unlikable leader on the Fram.
Nansen was alive quite a while ago (and this book was written in '97) so there is some bigotry aimed at Sami people towards the beginning of the book when travelling over Greenland. He even at one point says 'well, they call themselves Sami' while continuingly to call them 'lapps', and the author also calls the two Sami travelling with Nansen 'the lapps' too.
August 21, 2022
Don't pick this book up if you want a read that focuses on polar exploration. There are a few amazing chapters in here that breathtakingly describe's Nansen's travels. However, a bulk of this book actually focuses on international politics where Nansen was equally adept. I ranked this book a 3/5 based only on my interest level of this man as I don't find Nansen to be as interesting as other explorers. Nevertheless, this book is well researched and well-written and is a must-read if your goal is to truly understand the progression of polar exploration.
April 3, 2023
A fascinating biography of (in modern times and to English readers) a lesser-known Arctic explorer. Nansen was the man who declared Polar journey's to be based on dogs and skis. He honed these skills and equipment on his traverse of Greenland in 1888, where he turned on its head the idea to start in the west to travel eastward, by starting on the east coast and travel to the west coast, thus halving the distance. Greenland taught him to use Eskimo clothing and to study their habits of survival. This respect of Eskimo culture was not universal amongst the Polar explorers, the majority ignored this trove of knowledge and skills. Scott’s fateful experiments with ponies and motorized vehicles being the tragic example of this basic mistake.
His second quest made him famous, the Fram Expedition to the North Pole from 1893 to 1896. As shown in Greenland, Nansen was a meticulous planner who trusted his own innovations and skill. He of course had the advantage of growing up in Norway and learning to ski and survive in an extreme cold climate from a young age. By deciding to use the idea of polar drift to get close to the Pole he realised the importance of a special ship, one that could withstand the pressure from the ice. The brilliant design of the Fram by Colin Archer answered all these critical questions. The success of Fram was crucial, it provided safe, warm and comfortable winter quarters to his crew and dogs through the most difficult season in the Arctic, the winter months.
Nansen was a polymath, he started out as a gifted and hard working scientist. He is credited with pioneering work in neural biology for his Ph.D. in Zoology. Later in his life his fame (and hailing from a neutral country) opened a very successful career as greater statesman and diplomat. But his overbearing personality also had its downside, his children suffered under his domineering personality.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nansen, anyone interested in that great age of exploration will find it most interesting.
His second quest made him famous, the Fram Expedition to the North Pole from 1893 to 1896. As shown in Greenland, Nansen was a meticulous planner who trusted his own innovations and skill. He of course had the advantage of growing up in Norway and learning to ski and survive in an extreme cold climate from a young age. By deciding to use the idea of polar drift to get close to the Pole he realised the importance of a special ship, one that could withstand the pressure from the ice. The brilliant design of the Fram by Colin Archer answered all these critical questions. The success of Fram was crucial, it provided safe, warm and comfortable winter quarters to his crew and dogs through the most difficult season in the Arctic, the winter months.
Nansen was a polymath, he started out as a gifted and hard working scientist. He is credited with pioneering work in neural biology for his Ph.D. in Zoology. Later in his life his fame (and hailing from a neutral country) opened a very successful career as greater statesman and diplomat. But his overbearing personality also had its downside, his children suffered under his domineering personality.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nansen, anyone interested in that great age of exploration will find it most interesting.
April 27, 2023
Superb biography rounding off Huntford's polar exploration trilogy with the man always standing in the background of the previous two instalments, Fridtjof Nansen.
Guru to the likes of Amundsen, Scott, and Shackleton after his crossing of Greenland and attempt on the North Pole; friend and admirer of the Inuit; neurobiologist before there were such; champion of his homeland Norway in its bid for independence (and becoming, in all but name, ambassador for the same); champion, too, of the oppressed and starving in the newly-Soviet Russia and and contested lands between Greece and Turkey.
But this biography is anything but hero-worship (as no part of the trilogy could be said to be, though Shackleton comes close): Huntford is not afraid to list, explore, and comment upon Nansen's many faults and shortcomings, offering up a balanced, impeccably-researched biography that was a pleasurable and quite fascinating read from start to finish.
Strongly recommended for Those With An Interest.
Guru to the likes of Amundsen, Scott, and Shackleton after his crossing of Greenland and attempt on the North Pole; friend and admirer of the Inuit; neurobiologist before there were such; champion of his homeland Norway in its bid for independence (and becoming, in all but name, ambassador for the same); champion, too, of the oppressed and starving in the newly-Soviet Russia and and contested lands between Greece and Turkey.
But this biography is anything but hero-worship (as no part of the trilogy could be said to be, though Shackleton comes close): Huntford is not afraid to list, explore, and comment upon Nansen's many faults and shortcomings, offering up a balanced, impeccably-researched biography that was a pleasurable and quite fascinating read from start to finish.
Strongly recommended for Those With An Interest.
February 23, 2015
the actual writing is somewhere twixt a 4 and a 5-star rating - the minus being the subject - Nansen was not all that likable - amazing accomplishments, yet if one can believe Huntford (& for the most part I do) Fridtjof was a dreadful parent and spouse - the Norwegian history lesson was an unexpected bonus - my 4 grandparents being; Norwegian, Norwegian, Norwegian, & German - hence my interest in the story of Norway - I love it when a book leads to another, in this case to THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH - hoping that Amundsen proves less frightening as a human - the 2 adventures, Greenland & furthest-north, were gripping in their drama - the story of the Fram, from concept through construction, was captivating - Nansen didn't think much of the sanctimonious missionaries mucking over the Eskimos, I'll have to give him that. Nansen was a perplexing man - Christmas 1893 THE NORTH POLE board game is mentioned (a race between Nansen and Peary), found a photo of the 1935 edition, what a treasure that would be to have - Nansen's arctic exploration firsts were truly impressive, icebound with electric lights being particularly memorable - some more bits & pieces; scurvy was avoided probably because of his obsession in providing his expedition with quality foods in wide variety, this included 1/2 ton of cloud-berry preserves, cloud-berries being and excellent source of vitamin C, the pressure cooking would have avoided the long slow open cooking that destroys the vitamin, the litters of puppies provided the men with much needed "cuddle therapy", and of course the crew's mental state vastly improved just as soon as Nansen, along with Johansen, left the icebound Fram for their North Pole quest, also music provided during the many months of isolation by ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC ORGAN (at least until the juice generator failed). Great Arctic discoveries; the speed of an accomplished skier matched that of dogs pulling a sledge, the Arctic deep POLAR SEA, the value of the Primus stove in providing ample drinking water (along with scurvy the lack of drinking water doomed many an expedition), they still lacked the correct clothing in as much as their outer garments were still too tight, they didn't realize the secret to the Eskimo outfits was their loose fit which allowed air o circulate. Page 321 & thereabouts; the grim fate of the dogs was yet another knock against the story as opposed to the writing or to the relating of the story. The last third of the book was understandably less thrilling still it offered many insights into the politics and human suffering of post war Europe -
July 10, 2015
A page-turning book in my life. A fantastic saga of a man with great initiative, vision and self confidence, but with a number of human limits described with honesty by his biographer. Of science, adventure, love and politics. Also a notable history book.
April 21, 2011
The is a wonderful book about a one-of-a-kind individual. First to cross Greenland (on skis), arctic explorer, but also renowened scientist and humanitarian, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is 1922.
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November 6, 2019This book was as deeply satisfying to read as any well-researched and well-written biography should be. By the end of it I felt I understood this quite extraordinary man, and admired and disliked him in equal measure. Nansen's ego was both his inspiration and his downfall, and the painstaking detail of his behaviour and motivation explored in Huntford's book clearly reveals these contradictions. My reading pleasure was enhanced by the experience of circumnavigating Svalbard in the Arctic at the same time. What remains indelibly fixed in my mind, however, is Nansen's early journey across Greenland, where I have never set foot myself. Here again, the extraordinary level of detail and description brings that journey alive for the reader. If you have any interest in stories of human endeavour, this book must be on your list.
April 21, 2020
Who was Fridtjof Nansen?
Nansen was a Norwegian polar explorer and scientist, who lived in the late 1800s to early 1900s. He was later a statesman, an advocate for Norwegian independence, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to repatriate prisoners of war after World War 1.
Nansen started his career as a marine biologist in Bergen, Norway. He learned to love the polar sea while sailing on whaling and sealing vessels, collecting marine specimens for his research. He earned his PhD just prior to leaving on the Fram expedition.
See my blog post for full review:
https://www.northernmists.photography...
Nansen was a Norwegian polar explorer and scientist, who lived in the late 1800s to early 1900s. He was later a statesman, an advocate for Norwegian independence, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to repatriate prisoners of war after World War 1.
Nansen started his career as a marine biologist in Bergen, Norway. He learned to love the polar sea while sailing on whaling and sealing vessels, collecting marine specimens for his research. He earned his PhD just prior to leaving on the Fram expedition.
See my blog post for full review:
https://www.northernmists.photography...
February 14, 2018
Nansen was a real life superman of his age-a polar explorer, a skier,a scientist, a diplomat, a humanitarian, and a Noble prize winner. He also was a pretty lousy husband and father, a passionate lover, and a moody, tortured soul-not a particularly likable, but an endlessly charismatic human.
This is a great biography, well written and well researched. The parts about Nansen's life and explorations are true page turners. I am less excited about sections of his diplomatic career, but they are a good history lesson.
This is a great biography, well written and well researched. The parts about Nansen's life and explorations are true page turners. I am less excited about sections of his diplomatic career, but they are a good history lesson.
June 30, 2019
Unlike other exploration books about Nansen, this concerns his whole life, from childhood to the end. The first quarter of it is about his childhood, early adulthood and his Greenland expedition. The meat of the book is obviously about his Fram expedition and the last quarter is about his political career in his late years. The last part was a bit slow for me but shows what a great impact he had in history and in shaping the world as we know it today. Had no idea he has done so much more than exploring. Very good read. Would recommend!
March 15, 2025
As many readers, I bought this book after visiting the Fram Museum in Oslo. I was familiar with the work of Nansen as High Commissioner for Refugees with the League of Nations (for which he won a Nobel Peace Prize). But, I knew less of his crossing of Greenland on skis and his Arctic saga. He was also a scientist and a neurologist who left many publications that opened the fields to more advanced research methods. Well written and engaging, as all Roland Huntford's biographical works.
September 14, 2019
This was an interesting read of an interesting figure; obviously good for anyone who wants to learn more about Nansen himself; but if you are looking for Polar exploration and anything will do, probably plan to swing through Amundsen first. Link: https://tylerwolanin.com/blog/2019/7/...
November 27, 2022
Many times the author confuses his own judgmental political views with factual truth. Nonetheless, the research seems sound and there is no way not to enjoy reading about such an extraordinary life as Nansen’s was.
May 7, 2023
I enjoyed learning the history of Nansen and loved the first three sections: Beginnings, Greenland, and Fram. Though his diplomatic accomplishments were significant, they were less interesting to me through my exploration lens.
October 1, 2019
Read half of it. It's so well researched, and EVERYTHING is included, it's like reading a description of every day of his expeditions. And if you love dogs, you won't love him.
October 18, 2023
Amazingly well-researched, and at times fascinating, but there were quite a few chapters that were complete struggles to make it through.
July 1, 2024
Ed and I read this as part of a trip to Norway which made it extra great.
June 7, 2025
Excellent book - probably lost a star because by the end of it I really didn’t like him very much!
Great story of the Fram expedition though - I suspect a book on Sverdrup might be better read!
Great story of the Fram expedition though - I suspect a book on Sverdrup might be better read!
March 14, 2017
This is an excellently well-written and researched biography. The parts about Nansen's life and exploration are page-turningly compelling. I couldn't summon up the same enthusiasm for the sections on his diplomatic career.
August 20, 2025
Fridjof Nansen is a fascinating figure: at once towering and profoundly human; stretching in so many directions, yet limited by his own faults. He may have been humanity's last true attempt at a renaissance man. Plus, I have a soft spot for both arctic adventure and diplomatic history.
At times the book feels like a guided ski tour through Nansen's own diaries and letters. The result is enjoyable and intimate--a close look into Nansen's thoughts, feelings, and woes. It takes skill for a writer to navigate this level of primary sources while still maintaining a grip on the narrative. Huntford handles this expertly.
The middle third of the book is, rightfully, dominated by Nansen's legendary Fram expedition. Huntford brings us into the ship's close quarters, pulling from both Nansen's diary as well as the writings of his companions to create an incredible view of life aboard the Fram, the friction between Nansen and his men, and the astoundingly daring nature of the entire expedition. These sections of the book were truly riveting.
The denouement, describing Nansen's extraordinary final act as a diplomat, statesman, and humanitarian, is less tightly focused than the rest of the book. This is mostly because Nansen's life was spread through a prism of international causes into so many various directions, but also because Huntford seems to discount these latter adventures as compared to Nansen's more traditional arctic forays. Huntford portrays Nansen in this period as a well-meaning but naive marionette in the hands of more savvy powers-- but I wonder whether this goes too far in dismissing Nansen's true ability, energy, and agency as an actor on the global stage. There are moments in these parts where a little too much of Huntford's voice seems to enter the narrative.
My other, smaller annoyance with Huntford is his repeated insistence on working in references to Faust as a sort of extended metaphor for Nansen's life and personality. This starts to feel forced, or at least too cute by half.
More than any Faustian metaphor, the life and mind of Nansen may best be summed up by his own words, appearing toward the end of Huntford's book on a page I have bookmarked:
"For my part, life has been somewhat changeable, and somewhat different from what I imagined - less coherent, less concentrated on one goal than I believed a human life should be; more fragmented, more chasing from goal to goal than was perhaps good for me."
At times the book feels like a guided ski tour through Nansen's own diaries and letters. The result is enjoyable and intimate--a close look into Nansen's thoughts, feelings, and woes. It takes skill for a writer to navigate this level of primary sources while still maintaining a grip on the narrative. Huntford handles this expertly.
The middle third of the book is, rightfully, dominated by Nansen's legendary Fram expedition. Huntford brings us into the ship's close quarters, pulling from both Nansen's diary as well as the writings of his companions to create an incredible view of life aboard the Fram, the friction between Nansen and his men, and the astoundingly daring nature of the entire expedition. These sections of the book were truly riveting.
The denouement, describing Nansen's extraordinary final act as a diplomat, statesman, and humanitarian, is less tightly focused than the rest of the book. This is mostly because Nansen's life was spread through a prism of international causes into so many various directions, but also because Huntford seems to discount these latter adventures as compared to Nansen's more traditional arctic forays. Huntford portrays Nansen in this period as a well-meaning but naive marionette in the hands of more savvy powers-- but I wonder whether this goes too far in dismissing Nansen's true ability, energy, and agency as an actor on the global stage. There are moments in these parts where a little too much of Huntford's voice seems to enter the narrative.
My other, smaller annoyance with Huntford is his repeated insistence on working in references to Faust as a sort of extended metaphor for Nansen's life and personality. This starts to feel forced, or at least too cute by half.
More than any Faustian metaphor, the life and mind of Nansen may best be summed up by his own words, appearing toward the end of Huntford's book on a page I have bookmarked:
"For my part, life has been somewhat changeable, and somewhat different from what I imagined - less coherent, less concentrated on one goal than I believed a human life should be; more fragmented, more chasing from goal to goal than was perhaps good for me."
March 8, 2017
Fridtjof Nansen was a research scientist into the nervous system, an excellent skier, a pioneer of polar exploration by ship and ski / dog-sled, an oceanographer, diplomat and peace campaigner who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prize...
(Office international Nansen pour les Réfugiés (Nansen International Office for Refugees), the refugee organisation he helped establish and named in his honour, was also awarded the prize, in 1938. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prize...)
The book is divided into sections. The first covers his early life, cross-country skiing and his development of neuron theory (for which he should have been included in the Nobel Prize for Medicine). The second covers his expedition to cross the Greenland ice-cap and innovations in doing so which changed polar exploration. The third and longest section covers his polar voyage in the Fram, the first boat designed to cope with being trapped in ice, and his expedition across the ice which took him the farthest north of anyone so far. The fourth covers his time as a diplomat and also his support for other polar explorers such as Scott and Amundsen. The fifth and final section covers his post WWI work with the League of Nations for a lasting peace and for refugees. (It is hardly Nansen's fault that few people participating in the peace process shared those aims.)
Nansen was an interesting man and this is an interesting book, but Roland Huntford seems to be an author who writes about polar explorers while disliking them all. The third section is marred by his constant sniping. (I'm sure Nansen could be moody, fussy about every detail and sometimes arrogant, but it was not necessary to mention it quite so often.) He is not very complimentary about Scott or Amundsen in the following section either. I would still recommend the book, as I don't think there is another which gives a complete portrait of Nansen's life.
(Office international Nansen pour les Réfugiés (Nansen International Office for Refugees), the refugee organisation he helped establish and named in his honour, was also awarded the prize, in 1938. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prize...)
The book is divided into sections. The first covers his early life, cross-country skiing and his development of neuron theory (for which he should have been included in the Nobel Prize for Medicine). The second covers his expedition to cross the Greenland ice-cap and innovations in doing so which changed polar exploration. The third and longest section covers his polar voyage in the Fram, the first boat designed to cope with being trapped in ice, and his expedition across the ice which took him the farthest north of anyone so far. The fourth covers his time as a diplomat and also his support for other polar explorers such as Scott and Amundsen. The fifth and final section covers his post WWI work with the League of Nations for a lasting peace and for refugees. (It is hardly Nansen's fault that few people participating in the peace process shared those aims.)
Nansen was an interesting man and this is an interesting book, but Roland Huntford seems to be an author who writes about polar explorers while disliking them all. The third section is marred by his constant sniping. (I'm sure Nansen could be moody, fussy about every detail and sometimes arrogant, but it was not necessary to mention it quite so often.) He is not very complimentary about Scott or Amundsen in the following section either. I would still recommend the book, as I don't think there is another which gives a complete portrait of Nansen's life.
March 9, 2024
I think that Nansen is one of the least known of the great polar explorers, at least outside of Scandinavia. Yet, he was the first to cross the Greenland Ice Sheet, and the first to make a serious attempt at the North Pole. This book explores how he got to these adventures, and the adventures themselves. To me, the description is gripping. I cannot believe that I did not already know of these tales, and that they had not been more publicized into movies and TV.
The Greenland story and voyage of the Fram are truly historic achievements of exploration - I think they are comparable to going to the Moon in the 1970, or the dream of going to Mars today. I think this book does an excellent job of describing these journeys, and really captures the adventure, risk, and challenges the travelers faced. I really could not put the book down for the first 2/3 of the book, it was so exciting. The research that the author did is extensive, but the author really weaves it all into a great adventure story.
The pace slowed in the last 1/3 of the book, when the adventures were over and Nansen turned his attention to diplomatic activities, including the independence of Norway from Sweden. These are important achievements, but to me they were less gripping than the polar adventures. Still, they are part of Nansen’s life, and so to get a full picture of this remarkable individual it is important to include them - and I am glad that the author did. I would recommend the first 2/3 of the book for the adventures, and the last 1/3 to learn about Nansen and his legacy.
The Greenland story and voyage of the Fram are truly historic achievements of exploration - I think they are comparable to going to the Moon in the 1970, or the dream of going to Mars today. I think this book does an excellent job of describing these journeys, and really captures the adventure, risk, and challenges the travelers faced. I really could not put the book down for the first 2/3 of the book, it was so exciting. The research that the author did is extensive, but the author really weaves it all into a great adventure story.
The pace slowed in the last 1/3 of the book, when the adventures were over and Nansen turned his attention to diplomatic activities, including the independence of Norway from Sweden. These are important achievements, but to me they were less gripping than the polar adventures. Still, they are part of Nansen’s life, and so to get a full picture of this remarkable individual it is important to include them - and I am glad that the author did. I would recommend the first 2/3 of the book for the adventures, and the last 1/3 to learn about Nansen and his legacy.
August 25, 2015
Another top-notch polar explorer bio from Roland Huntford. Can't say enough good things. Strong writing. The book is, like all thorough bio's, long, and towards the end, it does get a little dense for a couple chapters, when plumbing Scandanavian politics during the period. That may be the only criticism I have, because Huntford brings Nansen to life in ways Nansen's own writings (Farthest North) could never reveal. This one will have a prominent place on my own personal library shelf...right next to The Last Place on Earth: Scott and Amundsen's Race to the South Pole and Farthest North, and Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest. The theme of Nansen's life could be summed up, to use a Huntford intonation, as "a man of action." I found it immensely inspiring.
August 3, 2007
This is a MASSIVE biography, and I simply couldn't muster the large blocks of time needed to do it justice. It's the sort of book that needs to be read through fairly consistently in order to make much sense, so I set it aside. I'm hoping to take it off the shelf once again the depths of winter, perhaps in that "dead" period in early January once holiday festivities have (thankfully) retreated.
The author penned several other books of polar explorers, including Shackleton, Scott, and Amundsen. If I enjoy this, I envision a long run of "polar reading."
The author penned several other books of polar explorers, including Shackleton, Scott, and Amundsen. If I enjoy this, I envision a long run of "polar reading."
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December 5, 2007I put "currently-reading" 'cause I think this is the book I'm thinking of (the cover is different, which may be throwing me off). If it is, I was reading it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Nansen, the first Arctic explorer- very interesting, very encouraging. I've since misplaced it and need to go search for it. Hopefully, updates to follow...
April 4, 2008
A wonderful bio of Fridtjof Nansen, the father of the 'golden age" of polar exploration and the modern Norwegian state.
September 19, 2010
Easily readable, inspiring and interesting tale of a great explorer.
December 2, 2014
Excellent biography of one of the most famous and important and influential Arctic explorers of all time.
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