Ecology of Siberian Dwarf Pine (Pinus Pumila Pallas Regel) on Kamchatka (General Survey)

Book Description

Fully revised and updated, Time Out London Walks, Volume I features 30 walks around the British capital by some of London's finest novelists, artists, comedians, and historians. Contributors include best-selling author Margaret Drabble, television personality Graham Norton, biographer Richard Holmes, and others. Kim Newman leads readers on a bloodstained trail through Soho of film murder sites. In "Of Kites and Keats," Kate Kellaway takes a nostalgic stroll through the area of North London the poet knew best. Other entries include Margaret Forster on Hampstead Heath, Joan Smith on Hammersmith and Chiswick, and Philip Zeigler on Holland Park and Kensington Palace. Each walk is accompanied by a detailed map and information about attractions along the way.

Customer Reviews:

Greatest Book if you want to discover London.......2006-05-18

I've gone on close to 20 walks and I love each walk more then the one before. This book is a must have if you want to see London at its best. You will see every part of London and discover so much about the city but always be left amazed. Time Out did an extraordinary job with the walks, but the writing is just as entertaining as the walks themselves. Phenomenal Book. If you like walking or are planning on spending an extended period of time in London, you have to get this book.

Book Description

The conquest of the North Pole was an elusive, almost impossible goal at the beginning of the last century. But a son of patrician parents, Robert E. Peary, and a son of sharecroppers, Matthew Henson, shared a dream of conquering the unconquered North Pole and were brave enough to risk their lives numerous times before they finally succeeded. Henson's great physical stamina and his ability to speak Inuit and develop warm relationships with the peoples of the Arctic were indispensable to the quest. He mastered the complexities of the dog sled and led the team across the layers of ice that covered the frigid, threatening Arctic Ocean. Henson and Peary's jubilation at finally reaching the Pole was later tempered by the controversy that swirled around their achievement. Once their deed was recognized, African-American Henson still was not. It took history a long time to hail him as a hero of exploration.

Average customer rating:

Understated Greatness
cheers to Henson
Interesting but incomplete
Editions can differ considerably
Inspiring Work, Incredible Journey, Incredible Photos

A Negro Explorer at the North Pole
Matthew A. Henson
Manufacturer: Invisible Cities Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1931229007

Book Description

When Commander Robert Peary reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909, one other American was with him-Matthew Henson, a black man from Maryland who had been Peary's faithful companion through 22 years of polar exploration. This is Henson's story in his own words, from his early years as a sailor to his meeting Robert Peary and their multiple expeditions to the North Pole. Filled with hair-breadth escapes from disaster and haunting evocations of life in the Arctic, this classic of exploration literature reveals Henson as the true hero of the journey, one who had been forced to accept a lower status because of his race. It was Henson who learned to speak the native tongue of the Eskimos, Henson who handled the dogs and broke the trail, and Henson who arrived first at the North Pole after being purposely left behind by Peary. New to this edition are rare articles and photos of the expedition that Henson published to set the record straight.

Customer Reviews:

Understated Greatness.......2005-04-23

Matthew Henson was a great and courageous American who never got the proper respect or credit for his contribution toward the exploration of the North Pole from 1891 to 1909. Racism was undoubtedly the reason, and perhaps this is why his book is so frustratingly short on detail.

As a quick romp through the Arctic, Henson wrote a good book: missing is any significant reference to racism, and the relationships between the various explorers, including Peary, are always positive. We know that Henson endured more than just the frigid arctic temperatures during the polar expeditions, but throughout his book he is the consummate gentleman; his narrative is understated and toned down to the gentlemanly pitch of the period. In this regard, Henson again shows his greatness because while it is obvious that he was subjected to abuse and humiliation, and while it is further evident that he was proud to have stood at the North Pole not only as an American, but also as a black man, Henson did not let his book become anything other than an account of an arctic expedition.

In his later years, Henson did finally speak out about many of the inequities under which he had struggled during the polar expeditions. These later revelations render "A Negro Explorer at the North Pole" virtually unusable as a primary reference beyond dates and times. Still, the book is written in Matthew Henson's voice, and is worth reading if only to know him better.

cheers to Henson.......2004-02-24

I've always had a soft spot for Henson ever since Peary was quoted as saying he took Henson, a black man, with him because he didn't want to share the honor of reaching the North Pole with another man. I too tend to doubt that Henson wrote this, but he deserves a great deal of credit. Especially for putting up with Peary.

Interesting but incomplete.......2002-12-16

Matthew Henson's life was different from those of many other blacks of his day. He was privileged to be in on one of the greatest adventures of the early 20th century: reaching the North Pole. Taken from and based on a diary he kept at the time, A Negro Explorer at the North Pole provides a good timeline and basic account of the trek. Accompanying Commander Peary and Henson in the final stretch were Eskimos and dogs.

The account as written by Henson, speaks well of Peary and their relationship. However, the cover blurb tells a bit of a different story. Of tension between the two men. Of Peary's intentions not to have Henson reach the Pole with him. And of vengeful actions by Peary afterwards, such as stealing Henson's photographs.

If Henson had given more descriptions of the day-to-day efforts, the reader might have a fuller understanding of the relationship between the two men, as well as the amount of effort and the toll on the men that actually occurred. Included in this edition are articles written by Henson to counter Peary's not giving him credit for his contribution to the expedition. These were included by the editor and add to our understanding of events.

There are many published biographies of Peary and his expeditions to the North Pole for those who are interested in adventure literature. For those who might like more on the contribution of blacks in history, try Fire on the Beach by David Wright & David Zoby, the story of the Pea Island Lifesavers.

Editions can differ considerably.......2002-03-23

If you are looking for a reprint of this book, first published in 1912, the two paperback editions currently available are very different. The Cooper Square Press edition has the edge for several reasons.

The edition published by Invisible Cities Press substitutes a neat modern typeface for the 1912 original's old fashioned one, and it has a very nice selection of pictures, but few, if any, that appeared in Henson's original book. It also adds as an appendix what it calls an "extremely rare article" written by Henson, detailing "the real story of Peary's trip to the Pole," in which Henson claims Peary planned to leave him short of the Pole and go on alone. The article also details "Peary's uncharitable actions toward Henson once they had returned to civilization," the book cover claims.

Many of the details of this article are in direct conflict with the book's text. If the article is truly the "real story of Peary's trip to the Pole," then what is the markedly different account contained in Henson's book? The article also raises questions about the introduction written by S. Allen Counter, who claims that rather than Peary being "uncharitable" to Henson after the expedition, "they remained friends and collaborators until Peary's death in 1920."

Oddly enough, the other edition, published by Cooper Square Press, solves these contradictions in a lengthy introduction written by Robert Bryce, who claims to have seen most of the original documents associated with Henson. He explains the differences in the Henson book's text and this same article in some detail. In doing so, he makes much of Henson's lack of credibility, even making a case that A Negro Explorer at the North Pole was not really authored by Henson himself. He also addresses some remarks to Counter's former writings about Henson that help explain the apparent contradictions in Counter's new introduction. The Cooper Square edition preserves the original typeface of the 1912 book, but is not really a facsimile, as its introduction claims. It lacks some of the original pictures and uses others that were not in the original. In rating this title, I have split the difference. Certainly you will learn a lot more about Henson from the Cooper Square edition. Four stars for the Cooper Square Press edition, one star for the less enlightening Invisible Cities effort.

Inspiring Work, Incredible Journey, Incredible Photos.......2001-07-03

Hats off to Dr. Counter and Invisible Cities Press for presenting Matt's amazing account of how he reached the North Pole with Peary. This inspiring work is presented with the dignity it deserves. (Unlike earlier reprints this one is complete with every word Matt put into the 1912 original.)

The publisher went all the way with photos! This has to be the ultimate Henson photo book with restored prints from such hidden jewels as Peary's rare "Secrets of Polar Travel". Here you see the Eskimos skinning a polar bear with paws that look to be 2 feet across! The pictures comprise a significant resource allowing the reader to see every detail of the dog sledges, ice trails, and even artists illustrations from the very rare 1910 Hampton's magazine series. Bravo!

The introduction is by Dr. Allen Counter of the Harvard Foundation. He is the world expert on Henson, a man whose deeds and accomplishment on behalf of Matt's memory have made history. He presents a perfect compliment to the original (1912) introductions by Commander Peary and Booker T. Washington. Much more than that, he gives us a cohesive narrative explaining many details about Peary and Henson that had been "murky". His scholarship (extensive research, reading Matt's diaries, etc.) lets us appreciate the historical context in which the North Pole was attained and why Henson was the key man that made it physically possible. Dr. Counter's 15-page intro will be much read in years to come. It is an outline of, hopefully, a full-length book on Matt that he should author someday to preserve his wealth of Henson knowledge. There is no one else in the world, writing about this subject, that is in Counter's league.

At long last Matt's 1912 work has been made available to everyone who wants to experience first hand Henson's excellent (and charming) account of reaching the Pole. In this respect he wrote a better, more intriguing, narrative than Peary did. Matt is an inspirational hero for all of us; a man of courage, humility, endurance, and great skill. He is still, to this day, a legend in the Arctic where the Inuit people adore him. His grandchildren live on in Greenland and speak with heart felt pride of Mari-Pahluk, "Matthew the kind one", the first man to stand on top of the world.

Average customer rating:

History or opinion?

Matthew Henson and the North Pole Expedition (Journey to Freedom)
Ann Gaines
Manufacturer: Child's World
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1567667430

Book Description

A brief biography of the black explorer and seaman who, together with Robert E. Peary, discovered the North Pole in 1909.

Customer Reviews:

History or opinion?.......2003-09-19

If you want to read a book about a historical event with alot of unjustified opinions, this is the book for you. It was the perfect example to show my children how history is changed or added to by the opinion of an author. She even hints that the man, who worked his entire adult life to finance his dream, didn't deserve the money and awards that came with the discovery. She hints that Henson, who was paid very well and at one time didn't even want to return to the Artic, somehow deserved the money and awards. This is just a few examples included in a book that could have been good if she had stuck to the facts instead of HER opinions. I gave it 2 stars for the photographs only.

Arctic Explorer: The Story of Matthew Henson (Trailblazer Biographies)

Average customer rating:

ice land

Arctic Explorer: The Story of Matthew Henson (Trailblazer Biographies)
Jeri Ferris
Manufacturer: Carolrhoda Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0876145071

Customer Reviews:

ice land .......2007-02-23

One of the reasions why I liked this book is that it gives the true feeling of the storey and the adventry of the story. The reasions why and the first people to go accrost ice iceland.

Average customer rating:

Matthew Henson (History Makers Bios)
Maryann N. Weidt
Manufacturer: Lerner Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0822503972

North Pole Legacy: Black, White, and Eskimo

Average customer rating:

well documented
Best of the Peary/Henson Books
Amazing Story

North Pole Legacy: Black, White, and Eskimo
S. Allen Counter
Manufacturer: Invisible Cities Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1931229090

Book Description

Upon hearing rumors that the men who discovered the North Pole had fathered sons while on their expedition, S. Allen Counter arranged to visit the remote villages where Robert Peary, the credited discoverer, and Matthew Henson, the black man whose contributions to the expedition are widely ignored, stayed during their travels. This book recounts the astonishing story of Counter's trips to Greenland and the relationships he develops with the Eskimo ancestors of the two men. At the same time, new evidence about Peary's journey to the Pole is examined, and it comes to light that Henson, was the true hero.

Customer Reviews:

well documented.......2006-11-29

found this in my local library, and it was a great read. For a neuroscientist to be the writer, he is also a good writer. One passage describes as Peary's wife, coming to the artic from New York City on a relief ship, must have seen an Inuit woman with a Inuit child of white skin complexion, and "must have understood. A stoic woman", as the book describes, decided in not saying anything. Very very detailed, it filled the dots in many areas. Would have liked a critical analysis of the 1912 Henson book "A Polar Explorer" in light of the culture during the time it was written, and how it would have been re-written today, since the book publication could only be possible after Peary's review. And would have also mentioned more about the meteorites found and hauled in the 1890's. But still, the amount of detail and effort in stringing it all together is majestic.

Best of the Peary/Henson Books.......2006-01-10

I've read a good number of books by and about Peary, Henson, Rasmussen, Freuchen, Ehrlich, and others, and this is the best of the lot. It's a fascinating story that recounts the Peary/Henson trek to the N Pole and bundles it with such topics as Eskimo culture, race relations a century ago, and race relations today. Throughout it all, Dr. Counter writes with great sensitivity and objectivity about controversial topics. That he was able to discover the modern relations of Matthew Henson and bring them to the states for reunion and recognition is remarkable. If you are at all interested in history, the N Pole expeditions, or artic living, you'll really enjoy this book.

Amazing Story.......2001-11-06

I just heard this book's author on the radio, and was so impressed by him. He's a Harvard professor who got interested in the story of Matthew Henson, a black man who explored the Arctic and discovered the North Pole along with Robert Peary. The professor, Dr. Counter, has gone to the Arctic several times now, and has befriended the sons and grandsons of both Henson and Peary. Before Dr. Counter, nobody in the US even knew that these explorers had fathered children up there. And Dr. Counter has done a lot to get Henson recognition here in the States, where institutionalized racism has minimized his role in history.

Matthew Henson: Arctic Adventurer (Graphic Biographies)

Average customer rating:

Matthew Henson: Arctic Adventurer (Graphic Biographies)
B. A. Hoena
Manufacturer: Capstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Adventures of Marco Polo (Graphic History)

ASIN: 073686198X

Average customer rating:

Gilman is a wonderful writer!

Matthew Henson (Black American Series)
Michael Gilman
Manufacturer: Holloway House Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0870675567

Customer Reviews:

Gilman is a wonderful writer!.......2003-08-23

One of the all time best books on Henson for grade school. Filled with great images, easy to follow story lines. Hats off to this author. I also bought the library binding copy.

Matthew Henson (Junior World Biographies)

Average customer rating:

Matthew Henson (Junior World Biographies)
Sean Dolan
Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0791015688

Average customer rating:

Ahdoolo The Bio Of Matthew A Henson
Miller
Manufacturer: E. P. Dutton & Co. Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JC9E60

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