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North Pole: Nature and Culture
The North Pole has long held surprising importance for many of the world’s cultures. Interweaving science and history, this book offers the first unified vision of how the North Pole has shaped everything from literature to the goals of political leaders—from Alexander the Great to neo-Hindu nationalists. Tracing the intersecting notions of poles, polarity, and the sacred from our most ancient civilizations to the present day, Michael Bravo explores how the idea of a North Pole has given rise to utopias, satires, fantasies, paradoxes, and nationalist ideologies across every era, from the Renaissance to the Third Reich.
The Victorian conceit of the polar regions as a vast empty wilderness—a bastion of adventurous white males battling against the elements—is far from the only polar vision. Bravo paints a variety of alternative of a habitable Arctic crisscrossed by densely connected networks of Inuit trade and travel routes, a world rich in indigenous cultural meanings; of a sacred paradise or lost Eden among both Western and Eastern cultures, a vision that curiously (and conveniently) dovetailed with the imperial aspirations of Europe and the United States; and as the setting for tales not only of conquest and redemption, but also of failure and catastrophe. And as we face warming temperatures, melting ice, and rising seas, Bravo argues, only an understanding of the North Pole’s deeper history, of our conception of it as both a sacred and living place, can help humanity face its twenty-first-century predicament.
The Victorian conceit of the polar regions as a vast empty wilderness—a bastion of adventurous white males battling against the elements—is far from the only polar vision. Bravo paints a variety of alternative of a habitable Arctic crisscrossed by densely connected networks of Inuit trade and travel routes, a world rich in indigenous cultural meanings; of a sacred paradise or lost Eden among both Western and Eastern cultures, a vision that curiously (and conveniently) dovetailed with the imperial aspirations of Europe and the United States; and as the setting for tales not only of conquest and redemption, but also of failure and catastrophe. And as we face warming temperatures, melting ice, and rising seas, Bravo argues, only an understanding of the North Pole’s deeper history, of our conception of it as both a sacred and living place, can help humanity face its twenty-first-century predicament.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 12, 2019
North Pole, written by scholar and all-around authority in this field, Michael Bravo, is unlike anything you will ever have read before on this topic as it takes a whole different approach to a subject that has fascinated many, including myself, for centuries. It charts the evolution of the North Pole in the human mind and spirit, including those of the general public, geographers, academics, philosophers and political leaders. The air of mystery that surrounds a place that many will only ever see in pictures or on television has developed over time leaving many craving information and photography of the area. The images included in this book are alluring and breathtakingly beautiful. There are photographs of expeditions, maps, portraits and politicised cartoons.
Often the writing in these types of books can be very dry and tedious, but the writing here is eminently readable. That said, there is a section that is rather esoteric for those who haven't any specialist knowledge of the Arctic, but there is no question I learned a lot throughout the whole book. There's no book that better Illustrates the ever-changing relationship between humans and the North Pole and the history of it. It is both a comprehensive and excellent piece of writing. Without a doubt, this is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the North Pole.
Many thanks to Reaktion Books for an ARC.
Often the writing in these types of books can be very dry and tedious, but the writing here is eminently readable. That said, there is a section that is rather esoteric for those who haven't any specialist knowledge of the Arctic, but there is no question I learned a lot throughout the whole book. There's no book that better Illustrates the ever-changing relationship between humans and the North Pole and the history of it. It is both a comprehensive and excellent piece of writing. Without a doubt, this is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the North Pole.
Many thanks to Reaktion Books for an ARC.
January 14, 2019
I've been obsessed with the Arctic since I visited Svalbard in the summer of 2018. So when I saw this book, I knew I needed to read it.
And it did not disappoint! This is a detailed history of the north pole. Discussed is how it was discovered and how people before the discovery viewed the north pole. A very fun and interesting story is of the airship Italia, the second dirigible that reached the north pole. Unfortunately it crashed right after reaching the pole. The politics and history of this ill-fated event is very interesting and worth checking out.
This book has beautiful pictures and maps, that helps the story come to life. The final chapters are a little more recent, and tells of women reaching the north pole. I love that the author put that in the book, it's a nice change to read about other explorers too.
So, if you're into the Arctic, and especially the history, check out this book! You will not be disappointed.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free.
And it did not disappoint! This is a detailed history of the north pole. Discussed is how it was discovered and how people before the discovery viewed the north pole. A very fun and interesting story is of the airship Italia, the second dirigible that reached the north pole. Unfortunately it crashed right after reaching the pole. The politics and history of this ill-fated event is very interesting and worth checking out.
This book has beautiful pictures and maps, that helps the story come to life. The final chapters are a little more recent, and tells of women reaching the north pole. I love that the author put that in the book, it's a nice change to read about other explorers too.
So, if you're into the Arctic, and especially the history, check out this book! You will not be disappointed.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free.
November 6, 2018
*I did receive a digital version of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The North Pole, for a variety of reasons, has almost always held a certain air of mystery for the general public (and for academics as well!) throughout the course of history from the ancient Greeks down to contemporary society. Michael Bravo's book, North Pole: Nature and Culture, does a fantastic job of exploring many facets of the North Pole and how it has captivated the human mind and spirit over the centuries. From cartography to philosophy and literature to actual exploration, the author delves into humanity's evolving relationship with the North Pole.
There were only a few drawbacks to this otherwise interesting read. Most notably, certain sections covering the early modern period's understanding of the the North Pole and the concept of polarity in general became quite tedious and included many, many names that only one who lives in an ivory tower would recognize. The earliest philosophical thoughts on polarity itself to the arcane printers of specialized paper globes and maps for the aristocracy which also included musings on what the North Pole could potentially be are touched upon. Overall, this section of the book was quite esoteric for the non-specialist. On other aspect that felt missing or that could have at least been touched upon was an examination of the flora and fauna of the Arctic. While quite biologically sparse from other areas of the globe, what life has managed to evolve and survive in the Arctic and its accompanying ocean is certainly worth a quick look at even if biology is not the main push of the book.
Still, those flaws pale in comparison to the richness of the rest of the book. Some highlights included some thoughts on Inuit understanding of the North Pole and Arctic life in general. This also includes how different Arctic explorers and prevailing attitudes of different times either incorporated Inuit understanding or went against it in their adventures and expeditions. The book also dd well to not be a direct history of polar expeditions but instead chose highlights from several expeditions and focused on a few differing schools of thought from the various explorers. In particular the examination of Vilhjalmur Stefansson and his naturalist philosophies and writings were excellent. The author has some tremendous insights on the varying contemporary opinions of the North Pole and its importance as well as the expeditions taking place in the Arctic. Political cartoons, cultural events, and contemporary literature are all examined to bring the era of Arctic exploration to life. Another highly interesting topic that was covered was the extensive use of Greek mythology that was used during the times in association with the North Pole and the Arctic. For some examples, the explorer (and disputed first expedition leader to reach the pole) Robert Peary likened himself to the tradition of Heracles and the North Pole was widely associated with the titan Antaeus.
Overall, the book does include some minutiae and obscure points of the history of the North Pole, but this is vastly overshadowed by deep connections that the book makes between humanity's changing relationship with the North Pole. For those interested in the human aspect of the North Pole and the Arctic this book is a definite must read.
4 out of 5 stars.
If you enjoyed this review please consider checking out the Triumphal Reads website for many more.
The North Pole, for a variety of reasons, has almost always held a certain air of mystery for the general public (and for academics as well!) throughout the course of history from the ancient Greeks down to contemporary society. Michael Bravo's book, North Pole: Nature and Culture, does a fantastic job of exploring many facets of the North Pole and how it has captivated the human mind and spirit over the centuries. From cartography to philosophy and literature to actual exploration, the author delves into humanity's evolving relationship with the North Pole.
There were only a few drawbacks to this otherwise interesting read. Most notably, certain sections covering the early modern period's understanding of the the North Pole and the concept of polarity in general became quite tedious and included many, many names that only one who lives in an ivory tower would recognize. The earliest philosophical thoughts on polarity itself to the arcane printers of specialized paper globes and maps for the aristocracy which also included musings on what the North Pole could potentially be are touched upon. Overall, this section of the book was quite esoteric for the non-specialist. On other aspect that felt missing or that could have at least been touched upon was an examination of the flora and fauna of the Arctic. While quite biologically sparse from other areas of the globe, what life has managed to evolve and survive in the Arctic and its accompanying ocean is certainly worth a quick look at even if biology is not the main push of the book.
Still, those flaws pale in comparison to the richness of the rest of the book. Some highlights included some thoughts on Inuit understanding of the North Pole and Arctic life in general. This also includes how different Arctic explorers and prevailing attitudes of different times either incorporated Inuit understanding or went against it in their adventures and expeditions. The book also dd well to not be a direct history of polar expeditions but instead chose highlights from several expeditions and focused on a few differing schools of thought from the various explorers. In particular the examination of Vilhjalmur Stefansson and his naturalist philosophies and writings were excellent. The author has some tremendous insights on the varying contemporary opinions of the North Pole and its importance as well as the expeditions taking place in the Arctic. Political cartoons, cultural events, and contemporary literature are all examined to bring the era of Arctic exploration to life. Another highly interesting topic that was covered was the extensive use of Greek mythology that was used during the times in association with the North Pole and the Arctic. For some examples, the explorer (and disputed first expedition leader to reach the pole) Robert Peary likened himself to the tradition of Heracles and the North Pole was widely associated with the titan Antaeus.
Overall, the book does include some minutiae and obscure points of the history of the North Pole, but this is vastly overshadowed by deep connections that the book makes between humanity's changing relationship with the North Pole. For those interested in the human aspect of the North Pole and the Arctic this book is a definite must read.
4 out of 5 stars.
If you enjoyed this review please consider checking out the Triumphal Reads website for many more.
November 3, 2019
Hyperborea was a supposed continent at the North Pole. This book spends much time discussing the Pole Star, what ancients thought about it, why it was reliable for navigation. Then the continent that might lie at the north, and trigonometry.
I am not disputing the scholarliness of the author or work; I did find it somewhat dry and a huge amount - more than half - concerns itself with legend, early philosophy and cartography, without getting near Polar exploration. So, for readers who want to dive into the deep background, this will be a perfect read, but for the majority of readers I suspect the pace will be too slow.
We enter the twentieth century by page 170, with incredibly brave and underprepared sailors proving whether or not there was open ocean, or any routes, north. Remember, the book isn't looking at the north-west passage. The author then goes back to a lesser known Jules Verne book 'The Purchase of The North Pole', 1891, which supposes land including the North Pole is put up for sale, and claims in the book include that Greenland should belong to America. Mineral rights are at the heart of the matter.
By contrast the twentieth / twenty-first century achievements of various people in reaching the Pole by various means are given scant coverage. Peary, Stefansson, the native Inuit peoples who subsisted on the fringes of ice. I hadn't known of retired nurse Barbara Hillary who skied to the Pole in 2007 and four years later to the South Pole, making her the first African American (man or woman) to reach both Poles. A film called 'Sea Blind' by Sarah Robertson is referenced. The last few pages get in quick mentions of receding sea ice, plastics, pollution; but I really felt the author wasn't interested in this century. He ends by revisiting his classical texts and a Seamus Heaney poem.
References P225 - 240. Index 245 - 254. I counted 25 names in the references and seven names in the index which I could be sure were female.
I read this ARC book from Net Galley and the photos did not download. However, there are many photos and I am sure they will come out properly in the print book. This is an unbiased review.
I am not disputing the scholarliness of the author or work; I did find it somewhat dry and a huge amount - more than half - concerns itself with legend, early philosophy and cartography, without getting near Polar exploration. So, for readers who want to dive into the deep background, this will be a perfect read, but for the majority of readers I suspect the pace will be too slow.
We enter the twentieth century by page 170, with incredibly brave and underprepared sailors proving whether or not there was open ocean, or any routes, north. Remember, the book isn't looking at the north-west passage. The author then goes back to a lesser known Jules Verne book 'The Purchase of The North Pole', 1891, which supposes land including the North Pole is put up for sale, and claims in the book include that Greenland should belong to America. Mineral rights are at the heart of the matter.
By contrast the twentieth / twenty-first century achievements of various people in reaching the Pole by various means are given scant coverage. Peary, Stefansson, the native Inuit peoples who subsisted on the fringes of ice. I hadn't known of retired nurse Barbara Hillary who skied to the Pole in 2007 and four years later to the South Pole, making her the first African American (man or woman) to reach both Poles. A film called 'Sea Blind' by Sarah Robertson is referenced. The last few pages get in quick mentions of receding sea ice, plastics, pollution; but I really felt the author wasn't interested in this century. He ends by revisiting his classical texts and a Seamus Heaney poem.
References P225 - 240. Index 245 - 254. I counted 25 names in the references and seven names in the index which I could be sure were female.
I read this ARC book from Net Galley and the photos did not download. However, there are many photos and I am sure they will come out properly in the print book. This is an unbiased review.
January 12, 2026
Honestly the best book I’ve read about the North Pole because it considers the topic from so many angles… not just the various expeditions to try and approach the Pole, but the contextual politics and technological advances. In a way this book feels subtly aligned with actor network theory. I love how Bravo talks about the paradoxes of the North Pole, being essential to celestial navigation but also a place of inaccessibility and mystery. So many times reading this I made connections I never would have thought of which is what a great book does.
My two favourite facts:
The Pole star is almost directly overhead in the Arctic so Inuit communities use constellations near the horizon instead for celestial navigation
&
It’s possible to travel under the ice of the North Pole in a submarine!
My two favourite facts:
The Pole star is almost directly overhead in the Arctic so Inuit communities use constellations near the horizon instead for celestial navigation
&
It’s possible to travel under the ice of the North Pole in a submarine!
October 8, 2020
North Pole: Nature and Culture by Michael Bravo is a history of the North Pole from ancient to modern times. Bravo is the University Senior Lecturer and Fellow of Downing College Convenor of Circumpolar History and Public Policy Research, Scott Polar Research Institute. Member of the Department of Geography's Natures, Cultures, and Knowledges Thematic Research Group. Research Associate in the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science.
I picked this book up thinking it would be a geography or environmental studies book. Instead, it is a detailed history of the North Pole. From the ancient Greeks to the Induits, the pole proved mysterious place. It could be an Eden or a window to the firey interior of the earth. Even 19th-century writer Mary Shelley thought of it as a mysterious place to start and end her book Frankenstein. The pole affected map making too. The Cordiform projection of the world was widely used after the Middle Ages its heart shape not only presented the earth as the heart of the universe, it also kept the pole area intact to display what may be there.
The North Pole is the axis that the earth spins on which is different than the magnetic north pole that lodestones and compass needles point to. Even the North pole itself does not seem like a fixed location. Since there is no land under the ice sheet at the pole, the position on the ice appears to move; there can be no permanent marker on the ice.
Early explorers had a difficult time fighting against the elements and organizing logistics in reaching the pole. The race to the pole was something almost mythical; it rivaled the much more economically important Northwest Passage. Today GPS, lightweight sleds, and other technology make reaching the pole easier. In fact, every year there is a marathon ran at the North Pole. It is a place that is much more accessible than the South Pole. Bravo presents an excellent history of the North Pole and the people who lived there, explored there, or dreamed of the pole. The book is nicely illustrated with maps, portraits, expedition photos, and even newspaper cartoons.
I picked this book up thinking it would be a geography or environmental studies book. Instead, it is a detailed history of the North Pole. From the ancient Greeks to the Induits, the pole proved mysterious place. It could be an Eden or a window to the firey interior of the earth. Even 19th-century writer Mary Shelley thought of it as a mysterious place to start and end her book Frankenstein. The pole affected map making too. The Cordiform projection of the world was widely used after the Middle Ages its heart shape not only presented the earth as the heart of the universe, it also kept the pole area intact to display what may be there.
The North Pole is the axis that the earth spins on which is different than the magnetic north pole that lodestones and compass needles point to. Even the North pole itself does not seem like a fixed location. Since there is no land under the ice sheet at the pole, the position on the ice appears to move; there can be no permanent marker on the ice.
Early explorers had a difficult time fighting against the elements and organizing logistics in reaching the pole. The race to the pole was something almost mythical; it rivaled the much more economically important Northwest Passage. Today GPS, lightweight sleds, and other technology make reaching the pole easier. In fact, every year there is a marathon ran at the North Pole. It is a place that is much more accessible than the South Pole. Bravo presents an excellent history of the North Pole and the people who lived there, explored there, or dreamed of the pole. The book is nicely illustrated with maps, portraits, expedition photos, and even newspaper cartoons.
March 17, 2019
3.5
I wouldn't normally go for a book like this but the description intrigued me and I have to say it didn't disappoint in the slightest. Bravo writes in an accessible and compelling fashion so even the more academic parts within the sections didn't feel tool overwhelming. The book covers a lot of ground, from the North Pole's place in mythologies of civilisations to philosophical thought - as well as everything else in between.
While the Bravo does tend to name drop a bit and I was bit put out that there wasn't at least a small section covering the Pole's extremely hardy plant life, it's easy to overlook given the sheer amount of information on offer.
Recommended.
With thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I wouldn't normally go for a book like this but the description intrigued me and I have to say it didn't disappoint in the slightest. Bravo writes in an accessible and compelling fashion so even the more academic parts within the sections didn't feel tool overwhelming. The book covers a lot of ground, from the North Pole's place in mythologies of civilisations to philosophical thought - as well as everything else in between.
While the Bravo does tend to name drop a bit and I was bit put out that there wasn't at least a small section covering the Pole's extremely hardy plant life, it's easy to overlook given the sheer amount of information on offer.
Recommended.
With thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
December 1, 2019
Hot damn who knew there was so much to learn about the history of the North Pole. Intensely interesting if a bit dry at points.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews