Secrets of Polar Travel: Illustrated with Photographs

by Robert Edwin Peary

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1917 edition by the Century Co., New York.

Genres: Nonfiction

333 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2002

About the author

American naval officer and Arctic explorer Robert Edwin Peary led the expedition, often credited with this controversial claim of first reaching the North Pole in 1909.

Robert Abram Bartlett accompanied polar expedition of 1909 of Robert Edwin Peary.

Matthew Alexander Henson accompanied Peary on this expedition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_...

Reviews

[Tech Nossomy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written during the author's retirement years, an overview of the practicalities required during polar exploration and which emphasises cooperation of the nationalities recruited for a mission involved. Covering more than two decades of experience, the author effectively describes how preparation and a focus on the success of the mission should take precedence over personal victories, as for example summed up in the following sentence:

"All these points were worked out rather carefully, and in my opinion are so valuable that they never should be omitted in preparing the supplies of a polar expedition."

These missions, one of which resulted in establishing the insular nature of Greenland, could take up to 2 years and cover 2000 kms.

Published in 1917, and making reference to the polar expeditions of Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton, it numbers 300 pages with black and white photographs. Available on Project Gutenberg.