The Explorer's Eye: First-Hand Accounts of Adventure and Exploration

by Fergus Fleming (Editor), Michael Palin (Introduction), Annabel Merullo (Editor)

Combining firsthand accounts with original images in vintage black and white and brilliant color, The Explorer's Eye, gives insights into who these men and women were, how they operated, and what they saw. Here you have Alexander von Humboldt braving the electric eels of South Africa, Umberto Nobile lamenting the loss of his Zeppelin in an ice floe, and Jacques Cousteau examining the planet from under the waves. Drawing on a multinational archive of explorer s logs, with expert commentary to set each expedition in context and an introduction by Michael Palin, this book is a unique look at the world we inhabit.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure, History

264 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2005

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without any obvious omissions, and also a lot of explorers I am not familiar with, this book offers a lot, despite only being relatively short.

Its format is suited to short reading periods - each explorer has a half page introduction, and then a few pages quoted from their writing (mostly - there are some quoted passages by others about the explorers). So all up over 50 explorers, each with unique tales spanning the world - a lot about the North and South Poles, exploration in South and North America, Africa, the Himalayas, and a few from Australia, Polynesia, central Asia and Arabia.

Perhaps a little more focussed on polar exploration, although this may just be an indication that the north and south of the world offer more discovery than other areas.

Favourites included Ranulph Fiennes, Wilfred Thesiger, Ed Hillary, Alexander von Humboldt, Richard Burton & Hiram Bingham.

These stories are accompanied by numerous pages of coloured photographs, all very good.

There was one obvious mistake however - Bertrand Piccard, first to complete a non-stop hot air balloon flight around the world, was quoted as being born in 1900, and completing his journey in 1998. He was in fact born in 1958.

Overall, one of the more successful anthology type books of exploration. 4 stars.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Großartige Collage von 50 Original Expeditionsberichten. Auf wenigen Seiten wird jeweils eine Expedition bzw. ein Forscher vorgestellt. Mit Auszügen aus den originalen Expeditionstagebüchern und Bildern. Besonders wertvoll sind die einleitenden Absätze zu jedem Forscher. Hier werden Bedeutung und zeitliche Zusammenhänge kurz umrissen und auch biografisches zu den Forschern/Abenteurern findet sich hier kurz gefasst. Wirklich gelungen und kurzweilig.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

First hand accounts from some of the most famous explorers. We follow them through desolated and hostile environment, remote locations and starvation, frostbite, joy and greatness. The pictures and drawings are really beautiful and sometimes epic. I'd like to read some more from many of the fascinating authors, it is more of an anthology but as such a great success.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of various first-hand accounts by explorers who braved unknown territories. A great read when feeling adventurous.

[Lushbug · Rating 3 out of 5]

first hand accounts of exploration and discovery throghtout the years and all over the globe. Very interesting stories and some great photos and illustrations.

[Janette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snapshots (written & pics) of famous explorers--land & sea. Very cool....

[Mad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this.. but wish that some of the extracts were longer...